Expert: Unmarried Women With No Kids Are Happiest

I consider myself a very happy person, and would rank my happiness pretty high up when comparing it to the happiness I see in the world overall. I try to practice a life with low stress, nearly zero anxiety and drama-free. But maybe my happiness stems from something else, too: the fact that I'm not married and don't have kids.

According to one expert, women without spouses or kids are actually happier than any other population subgroup.

That's what Paul Dolan, a behavioral science professor at the London School of Economics, said Saturday during a presentation at the Hay Festival.

"The healthiest and happiest population subgroup are women who never married or had children," Dolan said. "Married people are happier than other population subgroups, but only when their spouse is in the room when they’re asked how happy they are. When the spouse is not present: f**king miserable." He added, "If you’re a man, you should probably get married; if you’re a woman, don’t bother.”

Now, that sounds a liiiiitle bit harsh. If you're a woman, don't even bother getting married at all? I mean, I haven't met anyone I'd want to marry yet, but I assume I'll meet someone I want to marry someday. But according to this behavioral science professor, married people are only acting happy while their spouse is around.

I'd like to think that that's not always the case. I know some pretty happy married people, and I know some pretty happy moms and dads. But as a single woman with no kids, I feel pretty happy myself. To each their own.

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