Men's work satisfaction rises when partners share money beliefs, study finds
Feb 28th 2026
A Journal of Business and Psychology study of 178 dual-income heterosexual couples in the US and UK finds that men feel more psychologically fulfilled at work when their views of money as a measure of achievement align with their partner's, while women’s job fit is unaffected.
- Study of 178 heterosexual dual-income couples (356 people) in the US and UK found the effect.
- Participants completed two surveys measuring 'money as achievement' beliefs and needs-supplies fit about 10 to 14 days apart.
- Men reported higher psychological fit at work when their money-as-achievement views matched their female partner's.
- Alignment at the extremes raised men's job fit whether both partners strongly valued money as achievement or both rejected that view.
- Men reported the lowest job fit when couples held moderate, partially aligned views about money.
- Women’s needs-supplies fit showed no link to financial value alignment, and the study is limited by attitude-only measures, a Western sample, and a binary gender focus.