Research highlights the disproportionate mental load carried by mothers

Research indicates that mothers continue to bear a disproportionate share of the ‘mental load,’ also known as cognitive household labor. This invisible work involves the planning, scheduling, and organizing required to maintain a household.

A 2024 study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, involving 3,000 U.S. parents, found that mothers perform 71% of all household mental load tasks. Further research from the University of Bath suggests that even when mothers have higher incomes or more paid work, the cognitive burden does not decrease, a phenomenon researchers termed ‘gendered cognitive stickiness.’

On an individual level, the weight of managing family logistics—such as medical appointments, school schedules, and extracurricular activities—can lead to significant stress and burnout. Some families have turned to digital tools, such as the Skylight Calendar 2, to centralize family schedules and redistribute the responsibility of tracking household information.