Marriage is often referred to as ‘the old ball and chain’, in which your partner holds you back from doing what you really want.
But a new study suggests that this isn’t the case, and instead, marriage really does make you happy – in fact, it can double your contentment.
In particular, researchers suggest that middle-aged people experience the biggest boost in happiness through marriage – especially if they refer to their spouse as their best friend.
Marriage is often referred to as ‘the old ball and chain’, in which your partner holds you back from doing what you really want. But a new study suggests that this isn’t the case, and instead, marriage really does make you happy (stock image)
Researchers from the Vancouver School of Economics used data from two UK surveys to analyse whether being married affects your happiness.
Data was gathered from the long-term British Household Panel Survey (BHPS), which was collected from around 30,000 people between 1991 and 2009, and the United Kingdom’s Annual Population 2011 to 2013 Survey, which involved more than 328,000 people.
Their analysis revealed that married people were more satisfied with life than singles.
And those living as a couple, but not married, were much like the married.
Professor John Helliwell, co-author of the study, said: ‘Even after years the married are still more satisfied.
‘This suggests a causal effect at all stages of the marriage, from pre-nuptial bliss to marriages of long-duration.’
The boost that being married gave to a person was especially high during middle age – a period in life that is often associated with a dip in well-being.
The boost that being married gave to a person was especially high during middle age – a period in life that is often associated with a dip in well-being (stock image)
Professor Helliwell said: ‘Marriage may help ease the causes of a mid-life dip in life satisfaction and the benefits of marriage are unlikely to be short-lived.’
The researchers also found that people who think their partner is their best friend benefit the most from marriage and living together.
Professor Helliwell explained: ‘The well-being benefits of marriage are much greater for those who also regard their spouse as their best friend.
‘These benefits are on average about twice as large for people whose spouse is also their best friend.’
The researchers suggest that happiness that is associated with marriage seems to flow through social channels.
This indicates that friendship could help explain why the benefits of marriage don’t decrease with time, and why partners are often referred to as ‘super-friends.’