Couples happiest without children
Source: Agencies |
March 1, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
YOUNG, married couples who had not started a family have the happiest relationships, according to a study of British attitudes published yesterday.
The initial findings of the government's "Understanding Society" project showed older couples were less content than their younger counterparts, with women experiencing a greater decline in happiness than men.
Researchers discovered couples who had been together for less than five years were more likely to see their happiness blossom than those in longer-term relationships.
The taxpayer-funded 48.9 million pound (US$79 million) study, which is tracking 40,000 households over the next 20 years in a bid to improve understanding of people's lives and experiences, found married couples were happier than their cohabiting peers.
Relationships in which both partners had a university education were also more likely to see their happiness prosper, according to the study which says it will "map the social landscape as the country recovers from the deepest recession for 60 years."
But throwing a child into the mix is likely to disrupt the romantic idyll - researchers found couples with pre-school children were the unhappiest, but became happier as their youngest child grew up.
Unemployment has a negative impact on the amount of satisfaction a relationship can bring a man, the study said, but while income did not affect male happiness in a relationship, it was "mildly important" for women.
Of the 1,268 young people surveyed, 60 percent declared themselves to be "completely satisfied" with their lives.
Living in single parent homes was found with lower levels of happiness for children, as was living with younger siblings. Sharing the home with fewer other children was found to correspond with higher levels of satisfaction.
"The findings will inform not only individual life choices but also government policy, directing efforts towards those who need it most," said David Willetts, the Minister for Universities and Science.
The initial findings of the government's "Understanding Society" project showed older couples were less content than their younger counterparts, with women experiencing a greater decline in happiness than men.
Researchers discovered couples who had been together for less than five years were more likely to see their happiness blossom than those in longer-term relationships.
The taxpayer-funded 48.9 million pound (US$79 million) study, which is tracking 40,000 households over the next 20 years in a bid to improve understanding of people's lives and experiences, found married couples were happier than their cohabiting peers.
Relationships in which both partners had a university education were also more likely to see their happiness prosper, according to the study which says it will "map the social landscape as the country recovers from the deepest recession for 60 years."
But throwing a child into the mix is likely to disrupt the romantic idyll - researchers found couples with pre-school children were the unhappiest, but became happier as their youngest child grew up.
Unemployment has a negative impact on the amount of satisfaction a relationship can bring a man, the study said, but while income did not affect male happiness in a relationship, it was "mildly important" for women.
Of the 1,268 young people surveyed, 60 percent declared themselves to be "completely satisfied" with their lives.
Living in single parent homes was found with lower levels of happiness for children, as was living with younger siblings. Sharing the home with fewer other children was found to correspond with higher levels of satisfaction.
"The findings will inform not only individual life choices but also government policy, directing efforts towards those who need it most," said David Willetts, the Minister for Universities and Science.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
