Being a 'kept man' bad for health: study

Image
Press Trust of India Washington
Last Updated : Sep 05 2017 | 4:42 PM IST
Having a wife who is the main breadwinner is bad for a husband's health, as scientists have found that being a 'kept man' increases the risk of heart disease, strokes and type 2 diabetes.
Most men still think they should be the primary breadwinner, and being superseded by a spouse seems to strike a heavy blow to men's health, said Cary Cooper, professor at the Rutgers University in the US.
Researchers believe tht men suffer psychologically from being toppled from their position as main provider and this affects their physical health.
The team studied nearly 2,000 couples over 30 years, monitoring changes in earnings and status.
They found much higher rates of stress-related illness as well as heart problems and diabetes in men financially overtaken by their wives, 'The Telegraph' reported.
"We found that violating cultural expectations, such as the masculinity ideal of male breadwinning, is associated with older men's poorer health," researchers wrote in the study published in the Journal of Ageing and Health.
"The fact is most men still think they should be the primary breadwinner," said Cooper.
"When they no longer play that role, their health suffers psychologically and that in turns damages their physical health," he said.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Sep 05 2017 | 4:42 PM IST

Next Story