Collaborative Practices in Unnamed Housework and Childcare Among Dual-Earner Families: A Qualitative Descriptive Study on Family-to-Work Enrichment.

backgroundThe growing prevalence of dual-earner households in Japan has attracted renewed attention due to the unequal distribution of domestic labor. In particular, many essential daily responsibilities, such as anticipating children's needs and managing household logistics, remain invisible and are cognitively challenging. These "unnamed" forms of housework and childcare are often overlooked in family health support practices despite their significant impact on caregiver well-being and work-family balance. For public health and family nursing professionals, addressing these hidden burdens is critical to promote sustainable family functioning.

objectivesWe aimed to explore how dual-earner couples with preschool-aged children comprehend, negotiate, and distribute invisible domestic labor and how these collaborative practices may promote family-to-work enrichment (F-to-WE). Specifically, this study aimed to (1) examine how dual-earner couples allocate and experience unnamed housework, (2) investigate how they allocate and experience unnamed childcare responsibilities, (3) identify collaboration patterns related to these tasks, and (4) analyze how these collaborative practices influence the psychosocial dynamics of work-family enrichment (WFE).

methodsThis qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 15 dual-earner couples (30 participants) rearing preschool-aged children in Japan. Data were collected between April and June 2025 and analyzed using thematic coding to identify patterns of task sharing, emotional experiences, and perceived effects on work performance.

resultsThe participants described unnamed domestic labor as emotionally and cognitively intensive. Five task-sharing typologies have emerged as follows: fixed division, complementary roles, flexible/mutual arrangements, visualization-based consensus, and crisis-driven restructuring. Couples who engaged in reciprocal support and spontaneous collaboration reported reduced mental load, improved emotional readiness, and enhanced engagement at work, which are the key characteristics of F-to-WE. In contrast, a lack of visibility or unequal task distribution leads to emotional exhaustion and strained relationships.

conclusionsInvisible domestic labor significantly influences both family dynamics and occupational well-being. Public health nurses (PHNs) and family nursing practitioners can play pivotal roles in supporting couples in recognizing, redistributing, and jointly managing these tasks. Interventions such as task visualization tools and structured dialogue may enhance intra-family communication, reduce mental load, and promote mutually reinforcing work-family integration.