New research suggests more kids equals greater happiness
Notorious B.I.G. would have us believe that Mo money, mo problems! But no such problems with kids apparently.
A new study by Dr. Luis Angeles from the University of Glasgow, U.K, suggests that more kids = more happiness.
His research, published online in Springer’s Journal of Happiness Studies, suggests having children improves married peoples’ life satisfaction and the more they have, the happier they are.
For unmarried individuals, raising children has little or no positive effect on their happiness. Phew!
This new research flies in the face of earlier research which said that having buckets of babies did not make people any happier and that the more kids people had, the more they griped!
No shit, Sherlock! Try making 10 meals in a day and changing a gazillion nappies!
But Dr. Angeles believes that this explanation is too simplistic. When asked about the most important things in their lives, most people place their children near or even at the top of their list.
That is because Dr. Angeles’ analysis of the relationship between kids and happiness, factors in other charecteristics like marital status, gender, age, income and education.
So basically, his research points out that if you are married, regardless of your age, having kids increases life satisfaction. And that satisfaction goes higher with the increase in your brood.
Negative experiences in raising children are reported by people who are separated, living as a couple, or single, having never been married. Children take their toll on their parents’ satisfaction
Key takeaway from this research – be married, have tons of kids. Wait, don’t tell Jon and Kate!
