Does Marriage Make You Happier?

Being married vs. being single: which is better? This will depend on who you ask. However, there have been multiple studies done showing that married people are happier than those who are single. But the million-dollar question is: why?

What makes married people happier? Is it something that happens in the marriage that makes them happy? Or are some people just happier in general?

It’s hard to tell. In the past, marriage was considered to be an essential part of a happy life. In modern times, though, the institution of marriage has become debated. Nowadays, fewer Americans believe marriage is the key to happiness. Many no longer believe that it is important for lifelong romantic partners to marry.

So does marriage cause happiness or select happiness? In other words, does the act of marriage make a person happy, or do happy people just tend to get married? After all, it’s easier to attract someone if you have a pleasant personality. Likewise, people who are in poor health or who suffer from mental disorders are not generally happy people and are less likely to get married. Could this have something to do with it?

Let’s take a look at what research has shown over the years. Research shows that marriage causes better physical and psychological health outcomes. Couples provide support for each other in ways that friends or family members don’t. When you’re married, you have someone to rely on and this can give you the strength to face everyday challenges.

Married couples also encourage their spouses to be healthy. Being single often leads to irregular eating habits and bad habits such as heavy drinking and smoking. These habits are detrimental to both physical and mental health in the long run. A married couple has a more settled lifestyle. They tend to eat regular meals together, plus they don’t drink as much and have a strong social network, all which provide health benefits.

But whether or not marriage does in fact make a person happier is debated. Research shows that people strive to engage in healthy behaviors right before they get married. Once the big day is here, they revert to old habits soon after. The health benefits of getting married appear mostly in the weeks before and after the wedding ceremony. However, these effects are short-lived.

When it comes to marriage-related happiness, it varies by gender. Overall, men seem to benefit psychologically from marriage. Women were more disappointed. In terms of life satisfaction, they saw an increase before the wedding day. Afterward, happiness drops to a level below what it had been before they got engaged. This is likely because women often have unrealistic expectations of marriage and end up disappointed.

Seek Legal Help

Marriage can make a person happier, but that is not always the case. Many people are unhappily married and wish to divorce.

If this is the case for you, contact a Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer Edward J. Jennings, P.A. We can guide you through the process and hopefully make you feel happier. Fill out the online form or call our office at 954-764-4330 to schedule a consultation.

Source:

psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/talking-apes/202112/does-marriage-actually-make-people-happier#:~:text=One%20explanation%20is%20that%20marriage,that%20life%20throws%20your%20way.