Oh no!
I'm doomed! I was pregnant within months of marriage, and again months after my first child, and again months after the second child too! Am I headed for divorce court?!
A study on happy marriages seems to say that happiness declines once the first child is born.
A study of nearly 220 couples found that 9 out of 10 couples became unhappier after having a child.
Married couples without children also saw a decrease in happiness but the unhappiness happened more quickly for those who were parents.
Another study showed that parents suffer more from depression that those who do not have children.
Parents who lived together before marriage also found themselves more unhappy than those who did not co-habitate before walking down the aisle (finally, I score on that one!).
Of course, researchers do admit that happiness is relative. Having kids puts a huge strain on finances, which is turn causes stress and emotional hardship so those without kids can better avoid that.
But for others, despite the fatigue and financial stress that babies and kids cause, it's all worth it - and then some.
The study is published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Tell Us
Would a study like this put you off having kids? Has having children put a strain on your marriage or made you more unhappy? And how do YOU define happiness?