Another study "proves" that marriage is the key to happiness, but I have my doubts.
The "Solution" – For Everything!
Feeling sad, lonely, or strapped for cash? Just get married and all your problems will vanish! That’s the message women are still being fed today—that our main mission in life is to find a man who’ll put a ring on our finger.
Then come surveys claiming the happiest groups are single women and married men—but somehow never married women. Now, a new study says marriage is actually the secret to happiness for women.
Hidden Agenda?
The Wheatley Institute in the U.S. found that "married mothers were more likely to report being ‘very happy’ than single or childless women." Journalist Katie Jgln from Noösphere dug deeper to share her doubts.
First, it’s important to note the Wheatley Institute is part of BYU, a Mormon university. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is known for viewing women solely as wives and mothers. This alone raises questions about bias in their findings.
The Sample
The survey included 3,000 American women aged 25-55, about half of whom had children under 18. But how representative this group really was remains unclear.
Questions arise about how many newlyweds were interviewed—after all, they’re likely still in the honeymoon phase and naturally happier (for now). The study also didn’t clarify how many respondents were divorced. Someone going through or recently out of a divorce probably wouldn’t rate their happiness as highly as someone remarrying.
Did the survey include women who were married, divorced, and never remarried? Their experiences—and those of widows—would be valuable. We also don’t know if single women would feel happier if they got married.
Long-Term View
Long-term studies of married couples paint a clearer picture. They show marriage’s boost to happiness is usually short-lived—lasting only a few years after the wedding—and varies greatly by individual.
A 2011 study found that, years later, many divorced individuals reported higher overall happiness and balance than those still married. And let’s not forget couples living together without marriage—they often report just as much happiness as married couples.
Financial Factors
It’s clear that being married often makes financial sense. Covering rent or a mortgage alone is tough these days. When couples combine resources, it eases the burden—they get tax benefits and can save more.
In the U.S., married adults under 35 have, on average, three times the wealth of single men and nine times (!) that of single women. This trend is also seen in Europe, so we can say marriage does help with financial security.
Money doesn’t buy happiness, but it’s easier to feel happy when you’re not stressing about rent at month’s end. Divorce, however, can be financially and emotionally draining for both parties. And if the relationship is cold or abusive, marriage may offer financial security but not happiness.
Invisible Work and Illness
We know women’s unpaid housework makes life easier for their husbands. Studies even show single moms do less housework than married moms, since they don’t have to care for a husband too.
A sick wife is seven times more likely to be left by her husband than the other way around. These stats suggest marriage isn’t always the rosy picture it seems—at least not for women. (Men still tend to benefit financially.)
Conclusion
In a society where singleness—especially for women—is still stigmatized, the narrative that marriage is life’s peak and the key to happiness is pushed hard.
The reality is far more nuanced. A good relationship is what everyone truly wants. Psychologist Daniel Gilbert put it best when he said:
"It’s not marriage that makes you happy, it’s a happy marriage that makes you happy."
