January 1, Marriage and Motherhood Boost Women’s Happiness

Wyatt’s Take

• New surveys crush feminist claims about marriage misery.
• Married mothers are twice as likely to say they’re “very happy.”
• Greater affection and purpose give married moms the edge.

Feminist voices say marriage and motherhood make women miserable, but strong new research tells a very different story. A major study finds that women with husbands and kids report far higher happiness and purpose than single or childless women.

Just 32 percent of women believe marriage and motherhood lead to a fuller, happier life. Nearly half of single young women think being alone brings more happiness than being married.

But the numbers don’t lie. The General Social Survey says 40 percent of married mothers are “very happy,” compared to 25 percent of married women without children and only 17 percent of unmarried moms.

A new survey by respected researchers backs this up. “Consistent with previous surveys, our new survey finds that married mothers are happier than unmarried women or women without children,” the study’s authors report.

They found 47 percent of married moms say life is enjoyable most of the time. That’s nearly double the rate of unmarried women without kids. These numbers hold up even when controlling for income, age, and education.

The study dives deeper and asks why. One big reason is loneliness—or rather, the lack of it. Married women are only half as likely as single women to feel lonely. Only about 10 percent of married mothers say they feel lonely most days, compared to over 20 percent of unmarried women.

Physical affection is another difference. Married mothers are far more likely to get daily hugs and kisses than unmarried women. Over half of married mothers report getting regular affection, while only 17 percent of unmarried, childless women can say the same.

Meaning and purpose count, too. Married mothers are the most likely group to say their lives have clear worth, value, and meaning. One in three married moms say what they do is valuable, outpacing the other groups by a wide margin.

The report admits that motherhood brings challenges like exhaustion and less personal time. Still, married mothers report more happiness and purpose overall.

The bottom line: Family life offers rewards feminist critics don’t want to admit. The data shows that building a home with a spouse and kids brings joy and deep meaning to women’s lives.

Read the full report

Wyatt Matters

This research affirms what many in Middle America have always known: strong families are a wellspring of joy and purpose. Faith, marriage, and children anchor us in tough times and lift up communities built on shared sacrifice and love.