Understanding Society, a British study supported by the Economic and Social Research Council has brought out some interesting details about attitudes and relationships of its people.
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The happiest relationships seemed to be enjoyed by young, married couples who do not have children yet. Couples who have been in a relationship for less than five years can expect to be happy in their lives, compared to those who have been in longer-term arrangements. 60 per cent of the 1,268 young people surveyed have stated that they were "completely satisfied" with their family life.
Older couples showed much less satisfaction in their lives, and women exhibited a greater decrease in happiness than men. Marriage made couples happier than other partnership arrangements. But a child seemed to spoil the contentment quotient, with parents of pre-school children among the unhappiest, although they did recapture some of their early happiness when the children grew up.
The study looked at various factors – unemployment, single-parent families, the importance of the traditional family unit in children’s development, the number of siblings, sibling rivalry and poverty – that affected the level of happiness among the people.
"The findings will inform not only individual life choices but also government policy, directing efforts toward those who need it most,” stated David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science.
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