Needy, vain, precious and weedy: Rise of the metrosexual leads to an increase in high-maintenance men

1 in 5 women say their partner is 'high-maintenance'

Having a strop if they don't get their way is most common diva trait

Needing a reply to a text immediately and vanity are other complaints

75% worry about of time needed to keep high-maintenance man happy

Third of Brits with high maintenance partner end up in over £1,400 debt



Women say their partners are spending longer in the bathroom than them and taking too much time on appearance

One in five women believes their partner is 'high-maintenance', a study has revealed.



Researchers found the rise of the 'metrosexual' man is leading to a wave of high-maintenance men in modern couples.



Despite women stereotypically being the most attention-seeking in a relationship, women now say men are more likely than ever to sulk when things don't go their way.



Ladies say men are the ones demanding instant replies to text messages and spending longer in the bathroom than they do.



Spending a long time on their looks, wanting to be told 'I love you' several times a day and not leaving the house without their hair immaculately styled, were also among the list of high-maintenance traits in the modern men.



The study of 2,000 Brits found that half of all women have had a boyfriend or husband who was 'high-maintenance' with 19 per cent saying their current partner is difficult to manage.



Having a strop whenever they don't get what they want was named as the most common high-maintenance trait among men, followed by needing to have an immediate response to a text or email and hearing 'I love you' from a partner several times a day.



Always being late came fourth followed by spending longer in the bathroom than their other half and taking too much time on appearances also featured.



Seventh in the list of high-maintenance signs was refusing to wear anything which isn't branded or designer, with demanding to have phone calls answered within a certain number of rings close behind.

Constant worrying about how they look and refusing to go camping completed the top ten for men.



Avoiding public transport, only eating in 'nice' restaurants and wanting a present bought for them at least once a week also featured in the list.



Women don't escape though as one in four men say their current wife or girlfriend is high-maintenance, with 57 per cent saying they have had at least one 'demanding' partner in the past.

Having a strop whenever they don't get what they want was named as the most common high-maintenance trait among men

Top 25 ways women say a man is high-maintenance 1. Have a strop/fit when they don't get their own way

2. Needing a reply to a text/email straight away

3. Need to be told 'I love you' several times a day

4. Always late

5. Spends longer in the bathroom than you do

6. Spend a lot of time on their looks/appearance

7. Won't wear anything which isn't branded or designer

8. Need to have their calls answered within a certain number of rings

9. Always worrying about how they look

10. Refuses to go camping

11. Refuses to use public transport

12. Won't step outside the house without their hair styled

13. Need kisses/a certain number of kisses on the end of a text or email

14. Refuses to walk anywhere

15. Need their home to be spotless

16. Constantly looking in a mirror

17. Will only eat out at 'nice' restaurants

18. Not liking to get dirty

19. Will only stay in 4 or 5* hotels

20. Not likely to get sweaty

21. Will only drink bottled water

22. Changes outfits several times a day

23. Need to have a present bought for them at least once a week

24. Constantly pouting

25. Will only drink fine wine



Researchers also found that Britons who have dated a high-maintenance partner spent almost £112 on gifts, extravagant dates and luxurious holidays each month to live up to their expectations.



And more than a third ended up going into debt trying to keep their high-maintenance partner happy - to the tune of £1,426 on average.



Seven in ten also admitted they worry about the cost of keeping up with the wants and needs of their other-half.



And another three quarters worry about the amount of time they have to put into making sure their high-maintenance partner is happy.



It doesn't always work though as 80 per cent of people in a high-maintenance relationship admitted it regularly caused rows between them, with more than half eventually splitting because of it.

A spokesman for Quidco.com, which commissioned the study, said: 'Traditionally, it's women who are thought to be high-maintenance in a relationship, but it seems men have not only followed in their footsteps, but actually taken over.



'The rise of the metrosexual has led to men taking more pride in their appearance and enjoying the finer things in life more than they ever have before.



'So it looks like the days of men not caring about their looks, what or where they eat, or how much their partner says 'I love you' are in the past.



'This has started to creep into our relationships and it's no longer the women who want constant attention, or expect expensive and luxurious dates and holidays.



'This all comes at a cost though - women may need to make sure they are prepared financially if they are going to date a high-maintenance man.'

He added: 'Putting up with a high-maintenance partner isn't cheap - constant showering of gifts and keeping up with their demands can add up to a massive amount over time.





