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Study: Married People Happier Than Singles, Smart Women Make Better Wives

By Frogdoc, published Jul 20, 2007
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In a paper called "I just want to get married- I don't care to who! Marriage, Life Satisfaction and Educational Differences in Australian Couples" doctoral candidate Shane Worner of Australian National University reports that married people are happier than unmarried people, and men who marry educated women are happier than men who marry uneducated women. The paper was presented earlier this week at the annual conference of the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia.

Worner surveyed 5,000 Australians, asking them to rank their level of happiness on a scale from one to ten, then inquired as to their marital status. In general, Worner found that married men are 135% more likely to report a high happiness score than single men. In contrast, married women are only 52% happier than their unmarried counterparts. The study also reports that single men have to make $136,000 per year more in income to attain the happiness that simply being married brings. For single women, this figure is $122,000. Regardless of the discrepancy between genders, the fact remained that married people do report higher levels of happiness.

Worner also observed a U-shaped curve of satisfaction levels exists around the time of marriage for both genders. Individuals are less happy the year or two before marriage, very happy around the time of the marriage, and then realize another decline in happiness after marriage.

The survey also included education level and revealed rather surprising results. A man's happiness increases by 8% for each year of education his wife has. So, a woman that has a bachelor's degree has the potential of making her husband 32% happier than she would otherwise. Interestingly, this correlation does not hold true for women.

Happiness also changes with differences in years of education between the spouses. Women tend to be a bit happier if their husbands are more educated than they are, but education differences do not matter as much to men.

Study: Married People Happier Than Singles, Smart Women Make Better Wives
Date: July 17, 2007

Men married to educated women are happier.

Credit: Mary Gober

Copyright: SXC

Takeaways
  • Men are 8% more likely to be happy with every year of education his wife has
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There is this old saying an older gentlemen told me: The two happiest people are married men and single women. The reason is that married men have it all-the wife, children, job to support family, and the accomplishment of marriage. Single women don't have the worry or constraints of children, husband, and lack of career or ambition. Of course in todays society, things have changed considerably. I just wish for everyone to find happiness, no matter what their presumed status is. Thanks for sharing.

Posted on 03/04/2008 at 8:03:34 AM

 
My wife is very smart and I'm very happy with her.

Posted on 01/16/2008 at 3:01:02 PM

 
Wow Interesting points!

Posted on 01/15/2008 at 10:01:38 AM

 
Interesting. I am happier single than I've ever been married; and either I'm really vain, or my exes were not happy with a smart wife... you'd have to ask them!

Posted on 12/02/2007 at 4:12:00 PM

 
I don't pay attention to anything but my own back yard, and I just live with my guy...for 22 years now

Posted on 10/15/2007 at 12:10:00 PM

 
Hummm, interesting

Posted on 10/03/2007 at 10:10:00 PM

 
;)

Posted on 09/25/2007 at 3:09:00 PM

 
I say live and let live! There are happily married people and unhappily married people. Great article!

Posted on 09/18/2007 at 8:09:00 AM

 
Interesting :)

Posted on 09/11/2007 at 7:09:00 PM

 
Great article. I love the title, made me smile.

Posted on 09/11/2007 at 10:09:00 AM

 
:-)

Posted on 09/11/2007 at 6:09:00 AM

 
I disagree...most married people pretend they are happy for the public. I wish you all knew what goes on behind closed doors. Domestic violence, verbal abuse, infidelity...oh please...lets not pretend. We need to view things as they really are. If people live with the belief that married people are happier they will tolerate all types of hurting things thinking that is the happiest life and that if they leave the unhappy marriage they can only get unhappier.

Posted on 08/27/2007 at 2:08:00 AM

 
Yeah, I like the study you brought up. I've certainly enjoyed my year + several months of marriage more than any other time in my life. I'm just all-around satisfied, content, and comfortable. What could be better?

Posted on 08/10/2007 at 7:08:00 PM

 
Very interesting article. It validates some things I am seeing in my own life as a married man, year 3. It seems pretty on point.

Posted on 08/09/2007 at 2:08:00 PM

 
Interesting article - from what I've observed myself and from other married couples, and singles, I would have to say, for the most part, it is true.

Posted on 07/23/2007 at 3:07:00 PM

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