Americans who have said “I do” are more satisfied with their lives than adults who are unmarried, topping eight key “satisfaction” Gallup lifestyle categories.
“Married Americans are more satisfied with both their family lives and their communities than are those who are unmarried,” the polling firm said Monday in its analysis of personal lifestyle.
The survey studied 10 categories, breaking out the married vs. unmarried results in eight. In all eight, married couples were “very satisfied” at percentages higher than singles.
But nearly everyone polled said they felt satisfied with their life. Gallup said, for example, that 90% feel good about their “family life, their education and the way they spend their leisure time.”
Three of the Gallup categories looked at income, housing and standard of living. On personal income, 46% of married couples said they were “very satisfied” to just 24% of those unmarried. The ratio was 54% to 37% on standard of living. And on housing, 73% of married couples said they were “very satisfied” versus 50% for unmarried adults.
The results were similar for lifestyle.
Asked about “family life,” 88% of married couples expressed high satisfaction versus 63% for the unmarried. On their communities, 68% of married couples said they were “very satisfied” versus 53% for singles who were “very satisfied.” And considering personal health, married people edged singles 55% to 52%.
On leisure time, and the amount they have, 47% of married couples said they were “very satisfied” compared to 37% of non-married people who checked “very satisfied.”
And asked about the way they use their free time, married couples again topped with 62% saying they are “very satisfied,” and 49% of singles saying the same.
On the two education categories, Gallup did not list the comparisons between married and unmarried adults.
