Kuwaiti experts refute US study on husband-wife time allocation

• Kuwaiti family psychology specialists emphasize the benefits of husbands staying home with their wives, highlighting that a husband’s presence at home fosters consultation, responsibility, and participation.

• The Anchor Light Center, founded in Seattle ten years ago and comprising about 16 doctors, noted that “some individuals regain their energy by spending more time with their life partner, while others recover by spending less time.”

The Anchor Light Center, a mental health center in the United States, determined that husbands should spend roughly 30 percent of their day, approximately seven hours away from their wives. This duration may vary based on mutual agreement between the spouses, depending on individual circumstances.

The center, founded in Seattle ten years ago and comprising about 16 doctors, noted in a recent report that “some individuals regain their energy by spending more time with their life partner, while others recover by spending less time.”

This conclusion was questioned by Kuwaiti specialists in family relations and psychology, who emphasized that “a husband staying at home with his wife has many benefits.”

In this context, psychological and family relations consultant Mona Al-Saqr told Al-Rai newspaper, “The presence of a man in the home has a positive aspect, as it provides an opportunity for consultation, taking responsibility, and participation. Participation in any aspect is integral to the institution of marriage, especially when the relationship between spouses is based on friendship rather than solely on marriage. This is commendable.”

She considered that “the husband staying at home is an opportunity for dialogue with the wife and children, and it provides protection for the husband to achieve paternal and marital satisfaction.” She noted that “the matter depends on the woman’s intelligence and the husband’s flexibility.”

Family relations consultant Nawal Al-Muhaini confirmed to Al-Rai that “many people are discussing the negatives of couples spending extended periods together, but such ideas cannot be confirmed with certainty. I believe they contribute to weakening the family structure, and we must be cautious of this ‘danger’.”

She stressed that “it is not possible to generalize that the husband staying at home is a cause of problems and conflicts, as his presence in the home signifies housing and stability. He needs to step out of the work environment.”

She stated that “as couples age, it is natural for them to spend more time together as the nature of the relationship evolves compared to the early stages of marriage.” She also noted that “it is important not to overlook the need for personal space and to choose appropriate times for it.”

She pointed out that “electronic devices and phones play a role in distracting one party from actively participating,” noting that she “does not agree with the proposal suggesting that one party’s absence from the other is positive.”

In the same context, psychological consultant Dr. Khaled Al-Muhannadi told Al-Rai, “Social media presents a significant problem, as it contains a vast amount of information whose accuracy cannot be confirmed. It also allows people to make embellished statements that are believed to be true.”

He added, “If a wife hears these words, she might think that her husband should not spend more than two hours with her. So, where should he go? Should he spend the rest of the day outside the house? What about the children?”

He considered that “most of the problems between husbands and wives stem from the husband’s absence in general. Continuous presence is essential, as it creates family balance and fosters an understanding of each other’s personalities. The husband’s emotional behavior within the home is controlled, but if he has personal issues, that’s a different matter. The problem needs to be identified and resolved, and the solution isn’t telling the husband to stay away from home.”

He pointed out that “some problems cannot be solved unless the husband remains at home, and his absence may result in behavioral deviations, as the husband is the pillar of the home.”