According to a recent Gallup poll, less than half of Americans are satisfied with their lives. So, what’s the answer to living a happier and more fulfilling life?
First, let’s take a look at some macro trends in the United States. Did you know that the the percentage of people who have never married began creeping up in 1970s and has continued to rise.
Today, the share of Never-Married adults is four times larger than in 1970. But, given the high rate of divorce aren’t those single people a lot happier than married adults?
According to a 2015 study, adults over the age of 30 today are less happy than those in 1970. The study found that 38% of adults over 30 said they were “very happy” in the early 1970s, compared to 32% in the 2010s.
So, what about other countries? Are they also suffering from a malaise?
The 2024 World Happiness Report was published last month: Finland, Denmark, and Iceland take the top three spots, while the U.S. has slipped out of the top 20 for the first time since the rankings began in 2012. Who’s dragging America’s score down? It’s the young, unmarried kids sowing their wild oats.
According to The Wall Street Journal, “[Self]-reported happiness has decreased in all age groups, but especially for young adults. Americans 30 years and younger ranked 62nd globally. . . . Older Americans ranked 10th.”
In other words, it’s the generation most focused on their well-being who are most miserable. The generation least likely to be married.
In addition to those rock-bottom happiness numbers, 20% of people are somewhat or very dissatisfied with the direction of their lives. The last time the country was this unhappy was during the global meltdown in 2008.
So, when were people happy then? Surprisingly, people were never happier than they were at the peak of the pandemic in 2020. Crazy, huh?
A shocking 65% of people were very satisfied with their personal lives back when they were at home hoarding toilet paper and Chardonnay. Since that time, American satisfaction has been falling fast.
So is anybody really happy these days? Well, yeah, some demographic groups say they’re pretty darn happy (very satisfied with their personal life):
-People with annual incomes of at least $100,000 (58%)
-Those who attend religious services weekly (57%)
-College grads (54%)
-Age 55 and older (51%)
-Married people (57%)
Okay, you had to see that coming from a mile away, right? So, back to the question at hand—are married people happier than single people?
Yes, according to the good people at Gallup. 63% of Married people are Very Satisfied with their personal lives. That’s 20 points higher than the Never-Married folks.
Gallup also reports that marital status is a better predictor of well-being than education, race, age, or gender.
Last year, married folks aged 25-50 were 17 points more likely to be living their best life. That’s up a striking 12 points from 2009.
In 1960, the average bride and groom were just 22.8 years old. Today, the average couple is six years older (and wiser). That extra six years of growing up can make a big difference in how well you handle the challenges of married life—and how happy you are, in general.
As the age of marriage has increased over the years, the rate of divorce has been plummeting. You simply can’t ignore the connection. The divorce rate is nearly half what it was in 1990.
So, if married people are so happy, why aren’t more people getting married? Well, a recent Pew study discovered that 71% of Americans think that the path to personal fulfillment and well-being is by having a career or a job that they enjoy. Only 23% think that the path to personal fulfillment includes marriage.
So, let’s recap what we’ve learned here. First, 35% of adults have never been married. It’s an all-time high. Second, people over age 30 aren’t as happy as their counterparts were in 1970. Third, only 47% of Americans are very satisfied with how things are going in their personal lives. That’s one point short of an all-time low. Fourth, the happiest people are 55-year-old college grads earning over $100K, who regularly attend worship services, and are—you guessed it—married.
The bottom line here is that married people are happier and more fulfilled than the unmarried. Perhaps what we need is a Black Swan event to create a violent cultural shift back towards marriage and family. And, a dramatic swing in the happiness and fulfillment of the American people.
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About the Author: Tom Greene writes about things to help you find clarity in life. Things like happiness, family, spirituality and friendship. Find more from him at Wit & Wisdom