However, happiness is trending up for blacks and down for whites, so the gap is narrowing, said Mr. Blanchflower. Meanwhile, men s happiness is trending upward. Adults whose parents divorced have lower levels of well-being than other adults even if the divorce occurred decades ago. Cohabiting women are happier than single women but markedly less happy than married women. Being unemployed brings almost the same level of unhappiness as being divorced.
Second marriages appear to be less happy than first marriages.
Being separated is the single greatest depressor of reported happiness. This is followed closely by being widowed. No further republication without copyright owner's permission. These pages are dedicated to all kids, but especially to Riana, Maia, and Christopher.