Gendered Patterns of Unpaid Care Work: SocialInequality, Household Well-Being and Policy Implications

Abstract

Unpaid care work is a fundamental yet often undervalued component of household functioning and social welfare, with women continuing to bear a disproportionate share of caregiving responsibilities. This study examines gender differences in unpaid care work, investigates the socioeconomic determinants of unpaid care responsibilities, and evaluates their relationship with household well-being. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was employed using data from 1,500 respondents. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, independent samples t-tests, and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 29. The findings reveal a significant gender disparity in unpaid care work, with women performing substantially more unpaid care hours than men (t(1498) = 20.46, p < .001). Regression analysis further indicates that employment status, income quintile, household size, the presence of children, and elderly dependents are significant predictors of unpaid care work, explaining 79.3% of its variance. However, unpaid care work does not exert a statistically significant direct effect on household well-being after controlling demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological factors. Instead, household well-being is primarily associated with higher income, greater life satisfaction, lower mental distress, and adequate sleep duration. These findings highlight that addressing gender inequality in unpaid care requires integrated policies that promote equitable caregiving responsibilities, strengthen women's labour force participation, expand access to formal care services, and improve psychological well-being. The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating that household well-being is shaped more strongly by economic and psychological resources than by unpaid care work alone.