Relative income within the household, gender norms, and well-being.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Quasi-experimental regression discontinuity design using observational household data
PubMed 39454115 · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0306180
What was done
The authors examined the effects of within-household relative income on individual well-being, mental health, and physical health in Germany using a regression discontinuity design around the threshold where a wife out-earns her husband, also evaluating differences between East and West Germany.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, sample sizes, or effect estimates. Directionally, husbands in couples where the wife earns just more reported lower satisfaction with life, work, and health, and worse physical health. Women in these couples reported lower satisfaction with life and health, and worse mental health, with effects on life, work, and health satisfaction being more pronounced in West Germany.
Why it matters
This paper provides quasi-experimental evidence that breaching traditional male-breadwinner income norms is associated with adverse subjective well-being and health outcomes for both partners.
Limits
The abstract provides no sample size, effect sizes, or confidence intervals. The data are observational and limited to Germany, which may not generalize to countries with different socioeconomic structures or gender norms, and the abstract does not describe the specific measurement tools for health.