Wives, On Average, Wield More Decision-Making Power, Research Finds

(WebMD) Men may rule the world but women rule the roost, according to a new study that shows women wield considerably more decision-making power than men within marriages.

Researchers found that wives, on average, displayed more power than their husbands during problem-solving discussions, regardless of who brought up the topic of discussion.

And it's not simply a case of women talking more than men.

"It wasn't just that the women were bringing up issues that weren't being responded to, but that the men were actually going along with what they said," researcher Megan Murphy, assistant professor of human development and family studies at Iowa State University, says in a news release. "They were communicating more powerful messages, and men were responding to those messages by agreeing or giving in."

"There's been research that suggests that's a marker of a healthy marriage — that men accept influence from their wives," Murphy says.