For men struggling to cope with long hours and the pressures of work, it might seem like the perfect arrangement.

But it turns out having a wife who is the main breadwinner is potentially dangerous for a husband's health.

Researchers found being a kept man, with a wife who is the primary earner, increases the chances of heart disease, strokes and type two diabetes.

Sociologists at Rutgers University in the US who carried out the study said the problems arise when the husband loses his role as chief earner.

Being superseded by a spouse in the income stakes seems to strike a heavy blow to men's health.

It's thought men suffer psychologically from being toppled from their position as main provider and that this has a knock-on effect on physical health.

The Rutgers 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 harmful effects on husbands persisted irrespective of social class, suggesting low-income earners suffer just as much as those on mega salaries.

In a report on the findings researchers said: 'Wives increasingly out-earn their husbands and this may undermine men's well-being.

'We found that violating cultural expectations, such as the masculinity ideal of male breadwinning, is associated with older men's poorer health.'

Psychologist Professor Cary Cooper, from Manchester Business School, said most men still see their role as the main provider despite the huge increase in recent decades in the numbers of wives working.

'We like to talk about the role of 'new man' in the family structure, spending more time with the kids and less out at work.

'But the fact is most men still think they should be the primary breadwinner.

'When they no longer play that role, their health suffers psychologically and that in turns damages their physical health.

'And it's much worse if they have been made redundant.

'It will take generations before this mindset really changes.'

The findings were published in the Journal of Ageing and Health.

Really? We are doing this?

This guy gets it.

What a great thread. I hope that the guys that supposedly run this site realize how valuable the OP is to this place.

People like him just draw regular traffic to this place.

Agreed. Let's ban people for being assholes. That'll really help the traffic here.

Agreed. Let's ban people for being assholes. That'll really help the traffic here.

I can't believe how many people here want to overlook diabetes and heart disease.

Really? We are doing this?

We gonna do this now??

I work 70 hours a week. I would do fucking backflips if my wife outearned me.

I can't believe how many people here want to overlook diabetes and heart disease.

I pray for the day my wife brings home more $$$ than me.

I work 70 hours a week. I would do fucking backflips if my wife outearned me.

I pray for the day your wife dies. What kind of dumb Caller Bob marries you?

Agreed. Let's ban people for being assholes. That'll really help the traffic here.

There is a plethora of dialysis centers in town! That is a clarion call for action!

We should probably start with the racists, but this is a good idea too.

There is a plethora of dialysis centers in town! That is a clarion call for action!

What a great thread. I hope that the guys that supposedly run this site realize how valuable the OP is to this place.

People like him just draw regular traffic to this place.