Study Links Wives' Earnings to Men's Mental Health

A study from the University of Durham published in The Economic Journal highlights that men experience lower happiness and increased mental health risks when their wives earn more than they do. Analyzing data from over 20,000 heterosexual couples in Sweden, researchers found that the likelihood of mental health diagnoses rises by 8% overall and by 11% specifically for men when wives become the primary earners. This trend of women out-earning their husbands has increased by 25% since the early 2000s in both Sweden and the U.S., yet traditional gender expectations still seem to influence mental health outcomes negatively. Men were more likely to face substance-related disorders, while women reported increased neurotic and stress-related issues. The study raises questions about the impact of evolving gender roles on relationship dynamics and mental well-being. Researchers suggest that despite progress towards gender equality, ingrained societal beliefs about male breadwinners persist in modern couples.