New Research: Marriage Benefits Men More—But This One Change Can Fix It

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Dec 8, 2025

Explore the surprising findings about marriage benefits and gender dynamics. Men gain health and emotional support even in low-quality marriages, while women only enjoy these perks in top-notch partnerships. Discover practical tools to balance household responsibilities and emotional support systems. Learn why prioritizing career shifts can mitigate wage gaps and resentment. A simple five-minute weekly check-in promises to enhance communication and connection. Embrace the idea that a fulfilling single life may be preferable to a toxic marriage.

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ANECDOTE

Conversation Sparked The Investigation

Liz Moody recounts a conversation with a famous single woman who claimed single women are the happiest and healthiest.
That claim drove Liz to investigate the data and themes discussed in the episode.

INSIGHT

Marriage Benefits Men More Than Women

Married men gain health and longevity benefits that women typically do not receive from marriage.
Women often do the extra work that generates those benefits, so marriage yields unequal returns.

INSIGHT

Mental Load Drives Chronic Stress For Women

Women carry more household and mental load even when men are supportive in principle.
That persistent cognitive load creates chronic stress that harms women's health and performance.

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I dive into the science of modern heterosexual relationships, and what I found shook me. Men tend to live longer and gain emotional and health support, even in low quality marriages. While women only receive these benefits in very high-quality marriages.

To rebalance invisible labor and create fairer systems for women, I share tools you can use with insights I’ve gained from top experts. I also discuss the possible benefits of an unmarried life path. Whether you're single or partnered, after listening to this episode you'll leave feeling informed and empowered to create nourishing, sustainable relationships that benefit you.

🎧 What you’ll learn:

The Fair Play Method for dividing household responsibilities
The Time-Tracking Method for revealing hidden inequalities
Why rotating career priorities reduces burnout, resentment, and wage gaps
How to identify emotional over-dependence in relationships
Two powerful ways for men to build emotional support systems outside their partners
The 5-minute weekly check-in that can transform connection, communication, and fairness
How to define what a truly good marriage looks like for you

✨ Homework: Choose one task or domain in your home—meals, laundry, scheduling, kids’ activities—and assign FULL ownership to one partner (planning, remembering, doing, follow-up). Or try the 5-minute weekly check-in with the three questions shared in the episode. Notice how shifting just one dynamic lightens your load and deepens mutual support.

Check out the previous episodes of The Liz Moody Podcast discussed today:

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The Liz Moody Podcast cover art by Zack. The Liz Moody Podcast music by Alex Ruimy.

Formerly the Healthier Together Podcast.

This podcast and website represents the opinions of Liz Moody and her guests to the show. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for information purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.

The Liz Moody Podcast Episode 388

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