RESEARCH_FILE
Christin L. Munsch
University of Connecticut
Known for:Research on relative income within couples and its effects on well-being, health, and relationship dynamics
SEE THE PRACTICE
Turn a thought this research explains into one clear move.
THE THOUGHT
“I’m not allowed to fail”
YOUR RECORDED RESPONSE
“Struggling doesn't betray them. Disappearing under the weight does.”
ONE PRIVATE MOVE
Write down, privately, one thing you're actually struggling with right now—not to fix it, just to name it. Notice that naming it doesn't make you fail.
Key findings
- 2015
Analyzing relative-earnings data, found men's and women's reported marital fidelity responded oppositely to breadwinning status; a 2018 correction to the study found the effect less robust than first reported, underscoring how hard this territory is to measure cleanly. Her Support, His Support: Money, Masculinity, and Marital Infidelity ↗
- 2016
Using 15 years of national data, found men's psychological well-being and health were worst specifically in years they were the sole breadwinner, while women's well-being rose with earning share — a split attributed to which role feels like obligation versus choice. Relative Income, Psychological Well-Being, and Health: Is Breadwinning Hazardous or Protective? ↗