Mums with young kids 'should stay at home' [+audio]

Children benefit from time with their mothers, survey respondents said. File picture / Christine McKay

Only two per cent of New Zealanders approve of mothers of young children returning full-time to the workforce, according to a survey.

The Massey University study found 40 per cent of those surveyed believe a child under five suffers when their mother works full-time, although 83 per cent of the nation approves of married women working full time before having kids.

Lead researcher Professor Phil Gendall said the results revealed mixed attitudes on gender issues, particularly towards working mothers.

Part-time working mothers with young children fared better with respondents, as did women working full-time after their youngest child has started school.

Professor Gendall said despite the attitudes expressed, half the respondents believed a working mother could establish as warm and secure a relationship with her children as a mother who did not work.

He said a significant proportion (37 per cent) believed being a housewife was as fulfilling as working for pay.

The survey also found women are still more likely to do most of the housework, cooking, shopping and caring for sick children.

Couples are likely to share the responsibility for such chores in just a third of households.

It finds men usually stick with repairs, putting out the rubbish and maintaining the car.

Nearly half the respondents agreed men should do a larger share of housework and child care.

The results form part of an international study on men, women and work, with the New Zealand research carried out last year by the university's department of marketing.

A total of 1300 people aged 18 and over were interviewed throughout the country. The gender balance was chosen to "more or less" represent that of the nation - roughly 53 per cent women, 47 per cent men.

"This suggests many do not consider paid work to be the defining characteristic of a woman's role in the family," Professor Gendall said.

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB