A new survey finds married mothers report higher happiness, more physical affection, and less loneliness than single or childless women.
Married mothers are nearly twice as likely to describe themselves as “very happy” compared with single, childless women, according to a YouGov poll released Tuesday.
The national survey of 3,000 women aged 25-55 found that 19% of married mothers reported being “very happy,” compared with 10% of single women without children. Researchers also reported that married women, with or without children, were more likely to receive physical affection, feel less lonely, and experience greater purpose.
“Pop culture portrayals, online forums and media headlines declaring single women without children are happier than married mothers are simply not true,” said Jean Twenge, psychology professor at San Diego State University.
Brad Wilcox, a University of Virginia sociologist, noted the study was the first to connect physical touch with reduced loneliness in women. “Married women enjoy a physical touch premium that hasn’t been studied to this extent before,” he said.
The study was commissioned by the Institute for Family Studies and BYU’s Wheatley Institute.
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