Study Reveals How Women's Higher Earnings in Marriage Affect Men's Mental Health
In recent years, the number of marriages where women earn more than their husbands has surged globally. But what does this financial shift mean for both partners? A groundbreaking new study uncovers some unexpected consequences, revealing that in marriages where women out-earn their husbands, men’s mental health is significantly impacted. Dive into the surprising findings of this research and discover how income dynamics are reshaping relationships!
In some relationships, a "financial hierarchy" can emerge.
In underdeveloped or developing countries, the scenario where a woman earns more than a man is often not well received. A new study suggests that men who earn less than their wives are more likely to be unhappy.
Published in The Economic Journal, the study found that when a wife earns more than her husband, both partners, particularly the men, are more likely to experience mental health issues.
Worldwide, there is a rising trend where women are the higher earners in marriages. Celebrity couples like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, or Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, are examples of this trend.
The researchers wrote, "The proportion of couples where women earn more than their husbands is rising globally."
In both the United States and Sweden, this proportion has increased by about 25% since the early 2000s.
Scientists from Durham University studied the link between spouses' income levels and mental health.
The research focused on Swedish heterosexual couples who married in 2021, with an average age of 37. The couples were observed for 10 years or until they divorced. About 20% of the couples in the study divorced.
The researchers concluded, "A wife earning more than her husband significantly increases the likelihood of receiving a mental health diagnosis," a phenomenon observed at higher rates in men.
'Even in the most narrowly focused analyses, this likelihood increased by about 8% in the overall sample and 11% in men.'
The analysis also showed that mental health was positively related to both the individual’s and their partner’s absolute income level.
However, this relationship turned negative when only the woman's income was considered. The researchers wrote, 'Mental health is a critical factor connected to many important economic and life outcomes.' 'In this study, we find concrete evidence that relative income within couples plays a significant role in mental health outcomes. This is observed even in societies like Sweden, which prides itself on gender equality.'
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