The topic of marriage and happiness often invites jokes and stereotypes, but modern research shows that the reality may be quite different.
Married Individuals Report Greater Life Satisfaction
An analysis of data from over 2.5 million Americans from 2009 to 2023 revealed that, on average, married people feel 12–24% happier than singles. The assessments were made on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 represents "completely unhappy" and 10 represents "complete life satisfaction."
"Factors such as race, age, gender, and education are important, but marriage has a much stronger impact on subjective happiness," noted sociology professor and director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, Bradford Wilcox.
"Companionate Marriage" as a Factor of Happiness
Experts link this to the social nature of humans. Ian Kerner, a marriage and family therapist, points out that modern marriage is increasingly transforming from "romantic" to "companionate." People are choosing partners who resemble their best friends, which enhances stability and satisfaction in relationships.
Culture and Social Norms
Interestingly, the impact of marriage on happiness depends on the cultural context. In societies where marriage is viewed as an obligation or religious tradition, marital status has little effect on happiness levels. In contrast, where people are more free and independent, being married is often associated with greater life satisfaction.
