Married mothers are more likely to be happier than other women: study

August 29, 2025

A new report from the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) is suggesting that married mothers are happier than their childless and unmarried counterparts for a variety of reasons.

According to the Christian Post, the report released this month titled “In Pursuit: Marriage, Motherhood, and Women’s Well-Being” studied responses from 3,000 U.S. women, aged 25-55, in the Women’s Well-Being Survey conducted by YouGov between March 1 and 12.

San Diego State University psychology professor Jean Twenge, Brigham Young University professor Jenet Erickson and IFS researchers Wendy Wang and Brad Wilcox found that, “Married women are more likely than their unmarried counterparts to report feeling deep connection and meaning in their relationships.”

The researchers go on to say that, even though raising a family includes many challenges, like increased stress and reduced personal time, there is “no question that marriage and motherhood are linked to greater female flourishing on many other fronts.”

“Moreover, marriage shapes and magnifies the experience of motherhood,” the researchers report, adding, “They are also less likely to be lonely and more likely to receive physical affection — both strong predictors of happiness. Mothers are also more likely to find meaning and purpose in life.”

The Christian Post reports that married women were also more likely than unmarried women to say that life is enjoyable most or all of the time.

Researchers found that some 47% of married mothers and 43% of married childless women say life is enjoyable most or all the time, compared to 40% of unmarried mothers and 34% of unmarried childless women.

Only 11% of married mothers and 9% of married women without children reported feeling lonely most or all of the time.

The study also highlighted the vital role that physical touch plays in women’s emotional and social health and how affection from a spouse and children is linked to “relaxation, increased trust, greater feelings of safety, and increased emotional resilience in multiple studies.”

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