Association of Domestic Tasks with the Mood of Adolescents and Young Adults from Urban Contexts in Latin America. Findings from an Experience Sampling Study

Objective To identify the association between household chores and the mood of adolescents and young adults in three Latin American cities. Methods This observational study is part of an Experience Sampling Study conducted under the research program «Promoting Resilience and the Development of Resources to Overcome Depression and Anxiety in Urban Youth in Latin America». The study was carried out in Buenos Aires, Bogotá, and Lima. Participants completed questionnaires that assessed their mood (calmness-nervousness and happiness-sadness) and the activities they engaged in at random times throughout the day for seven consecutive days, using a mobile application. A multilevel analysis was performed to determine whether mood differed by gender and age, both before, during, and after performing household chores. Results Participants reported feeling significantly calmer while engaged in household chores, and this effect appeared to persist over time. However, there was an increase in reported sadness during these chores compared to previous assessments. While mood varied based on age group and gender during household tasks, no significant differences were found. Conclusions The performance of household chores has an inverse impact on mood, affecting happiness-sadness and calmness-nervousness among adolescents and young adults in Latin American cities. Further research is needed to understand the medium- and long-term effects of these activities on mood.