There is some evidence that male marriage participants live longer and are healthier [1] than non married counterparts. Conversely, there is also evidence that single, childless women are the happiest subpopulation [2].
With regards to data about happiness, you can make a case for whatever your position is based on picking your choice of longitudinal study. Happiness is a crapshoot.
I know this is anecdata, but almost all women I know wanted kids very badly, and they were ok with a bad career but a nice family. Those that are childless despite their desire don’t look that happy to me.
Sure, I know women who’re childless and single by choice and they’re perfecly happy with that.
But I wonder whether we’re just cherrypicking a peculiar and yet uncommon population slice.
I'm fairly certain we are all capable of the google search and you can and will find the multitude of studies, anecdotes, memes and conversations about:
- women's unpaid labor at home, with their children, in their community and for aging relatives/relatives who need care
- women's thwarted ability to get promoted
- women's inability to negotiate as easily for a raise bc when you're aggressive you're a bitch and when you're not you dont get a raise
- women's emotional labor in relationships as men in our specific (NA/Euro) societies tend to have limited social circles as they age
Single childless women are happier for structural and social reasons. It is not in fact just a crapshoot.
The promotion and negotiation problems will negatively affect single childless women too, right? So those would make that group less happy compared to the male groups.
Anecdotal opinion: it is easier to keep finding new strategies to deal with my career, including building my own business, when I'm not drained by my personal life.
It was widely covered in the media that unmarried women are the happiest subgroup. However, the reported study may have misinterpreted some data.
The study reported that married women were happier only when their spouse was in the room. When their spouse was absent their response was miserable. The problem is that the original survey defined absence as a spouse no longer living in the household.
Sure, I know women who’re childless and single by choice and they’re perfecly happy with that. But I wonder whether we’re just cherrypicking a peculiar and yet uncommon population slice.