Study: Does Marriage Really Make It Happier?

study
Does Marriage Really Make It Happier?

© Westend61 / Getty Images

Of almost 83 million people in Germany, a quarter are not affiliated with any partner. Researchers are wondering how our brides fare: are they really happier than singles?

In love, engaged, married … That’s the way things go in many relationships. The chance of finding Mr. Right as Ms. Right is 50:50 – and even then, “Happily ever after” is not guaranteed. According to studies, married people or women in steadfast relationships are happier than singles. On the one hand logical, because who marries someone you absolutely cannot smell? On closer inspection, however, you can’t really say that.

Study: When are wives happier than singles?

We don’t measure happiness the way we measure butter for a cake. How then, if it is a subjective feeling? Psychologist Maike Luhmann also asked herself that and led one study in which she measured the reactions and adaptation of her participants to decisive life events. In the “Family” category, she looked at four areas: marriage, divorce, bereavement, and birth. What she realized was an increase in happiness in the period before and until shortly after the wedding. This feeling then slowly disappears. This is called the “Honeymoon Effect”. We get used to both the good and bad events in the game of life. Nobody is always happy, like on the first day of their dream job. That does not mean that we are sad, but that the “happiness level” is reset to the factory setting. The hedonic treadmill takes its course …

Study: “No, let it go” instead of “Yes, I do”?

Saying no more often and shedding unnecessary ballast is emotionally and mentally liberating. We do it like Marie Kondo: take everything and everyone in hand, see if it makes us happy and if not, it’s “Goodbye my almost lover”. The honeymoon phase may be all well and good, but to be honest, we all know at least one couple that should have thought twice about the wedding … Not for nothing is a study by Helliwell and Groverthat couples who are also best friends not only contribute to mutual well-being, but also have a higher level of life satisfaction.

The fact that choosing a partner in the global north is on your own bucket list does not mean that it is a must. Oh yes, single life has its advantages, which is great for getting to know your own limits and values ​​before a woman binds herself to a man until the end of her days (which we no longer have to take literally today thanks to good divorce lawyers).

Barbara

source site-36