Sharing is caring: Redistributing unpaid and care work improves mental well-being for both spouses

Women bear a disproportionate burden of unpaid and care work, a factor that could explain why depression is twice as common among women as men. Although evidence abounds on how the double burden affects labor market opportunities and empowerment, few interventions address mental health outcomes or directly engage men in unpaid work. We evaluate a phone-based Behavior Change Communication (BCC) intervention that engaged men through personalized discussions on gender norms over 14 weeks, among ultra-poor households in Ethiopia. The intervention significantly reduced depressive symptoms for both spouses, coinciding with a shift in household labor: treated men’s contributions to chores increased by 40 percent, with sons also contributing more. Consequently, women’s overall chore burden declined, allowing them to focus on tasks they prefer. These findings highlight that redistributing household responsibilities can enhance both partners’ well-being and result in inter-generational benefits. 2025 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 27 - 29, 2025, Denver, Colorado