Being sole breadwinner is bad for men’s mental health, says study
A new study suggests that being the sole breadwinner has negative effects to a man’s mental and physical health while sharing the financial burden brings long-term benefits to their well-being.
On the other hand, being the only provider benefits women’s mental health. Their overall well-being and emotional health are seen to decline as they contribute less to their household.
US researchers conclude that cultural expectations have left men viewing ‘breadwinning’ as an obligation they must fulfil, while women see it as an achievement.
According to Dr. Christin Munsch, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Conneticut, “Men who make a lot more money than their partners may approach breadwinning with a sense of obligation and worry about maintaining breadwinner status.”
“Women, on the other hand, may approach breadwinning as an opportunity or choice. Breadwinning women may feel a sense of pride, without worrying what others will say if they can’t or don’t maintain it.
“Our study contributes to a growing body of research that demonstrates the ways in which gendered expectations are harmful for men too. Men are expected to be breadwinners, yet providing for one’s family with little or no help has negative repercussions.”
The researchers looked at the answers of nearly 9,000 people who took part in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth between 2007 and 2011 to find out the link between financial dependency and overall health.
Their findings show that the men’s psychological well-being and health were at their lowest during the years when they were their families’ sole breadwinner. Their psychological well-being scores were 5% lower and health scores were 3.5% lower, on average, in comparison to the years when their partners contributed equally.
But breadwinning has the opposite effect for women when it comes to psychological well-being. Women’s psychological well-being improved as they made greater economic contributions and as they contributed less relative to their spouses, their psychological well-being declined. Relative income was unrelated to women’s health.
“Our study finds that decoupling breadwinning from masculinity has concrete benefits for both men and women,” added DrMunsch.
“Whereas men’s psychological well-being and health tend to increase as their wives take on more economic responsibility, women’s psychological well-being also improves as they take on more economic responsibility.”
The study was presented at the American Sociological Association’s annual conference.
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