That’s the news according to Science Daily.
Married people may be happier in the long run than those who aren’t married, according to new research by Michigan State University scientists.
Their study, online in the Journal of Research in Personality, finds that although matrimony does not make people happier than they were when they were single, it appears to protect against normal declines in happiness during adulthood.“Our study suggests that people on average are happier than they would have been if they didn’t get married,” said Stevie C.Y. Yap, a researcher in MSU’s Department of Psychology.
It’s important to note, too, that the scientists found that marriage doesn’t cause happiness to spike or anything, it just keeps the happy meter stable. Those surveyed in the same age group showed a “gradual decline in happiness as the years passed.”
I really want to be snarky about this, but I can understand how that’s possible. My married friends who have healthy relationships and truly love one another seem to have a blast most of the time. Growing old with someone who accepts all of your ugly moments and celebrates the beautiful ones with you has to be a major relief.
Naturally, I worry about the death of my potential paramour — a bleak notion, I know. But it’s really just the fear of loving someone so much that I’m afraid I may be broken forever if I lose them.
Maybe happy looks different depending on the marriage, but I have to say, I think I know more single people who are more content with their lives. It’s possible, too, that we all self-select the people in our lives who reflect our reality. Does that make any sense?
In general, similar-aged participants who did not get married showed a gradual decline in happiness as the years passed.
Richard Thaler who wrote Happiness is involved in Action For Happiness. Most of their 10 key behaviors are key to a successful marriage.
I wonder if both the MSU study and Thaler undervalue sleep. Lack of sleep hinders our ability to retain positive memories and is bad for learning and increases the likelihood of bad responses to others. While single could we be more likely to cheat on enough sleep?