A new study has shown that men face a deterioration in well-being if their wives earn more, Ukr.Media reports.
This situation negatively affects the mental health of both spouses, but it is especially acutely reflected on men.
Researchers at Durham University analyzed married couples in Sweden and found that men whose wives became the primary breadwinners had an 8-11% increased risk of mental health problems. In most cases, this was related to substance use. For women, this financial dynamic was more likely to cause stress and anxiety.
Over the past 20 years, countries such as Sweden and the United States have seen a 25% increase in the number of households where the wife earns more. However, even in societies with high levels of gender equality, men continue to feel pressured by the social stereotype that they should be the primary breadwinners.
The lead author of the study, Demid Getik, emphasized that, despite changes in the distribution of roles, societal expectations still affect men's self-esteem and emotional state.
