Despite modern attempts to reimagine family relationships, marriage remains a strong defense against increasing loneliness.
A new Institute for Family Studies analysis of Gallup’s COVID Tracking Survey data found that married people experienced substantially lower rates of loneliness over the past two years. Unmarried people are 30-40% more likely to feel lonely, while married people experienced loneliness at a rate of only around 20%.
The Gallup survey collected 1,000 responses per day between March 13 and April 26, 2020, and continued to collect 500 responses each day afterward through Sept. 16, 2021. Using a Life Satisfaction Index ranging from zero to 10, it measured the emotional well-being of different demographics, finding that married people averaged 0.5 higher on the index than single people.
Married people also fared better than their unmarried counterparts in recovering from the general drop in satisfaction that occurred at the beginning of COVID-19. By the end of 2021, 60% of married people with children were “thriving” — meaning their Life Satisfaction Index score was at least a seven on current satisfaction and an eight on expected satisfaction during the next five years. Unmarried survey respondents were only thriving at the rate of 45% by the end of 2021, compared to 40% at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During a uniquely isolating time, it’s not surprising that those with consistent, committed companionship fared better. It provides emotional support and the practical benefit of two people bearing the burden. Difficult times that challenge weaker relationships also serve to strengthen close bonds. It also seems to make people desire such bonds. February data from the Pew Research Center found that 22% of single adults under 30 say the pandemic made them more interested in a committed relationship.
Young adults, across the board, are the loneliest age group. A national survey conducted last year by Harvard’s Making Caring Common found 61% of respondents ages 18-25 reported “serious loneliness.” Social circles take time to establish, especially for those starting fresh when moving away from home for college or careers. Last year’s continuing COVID-19 restrictions, paired with the instability that generally marks this stage of life, create the perfect circumstances for a widespread problem.
But as surveys consistently find, marriage also isn’t a priority for Generation Z. Unlike other generations, the majority say professional success is more central to their identity than family. Whether due to a lack of good examples or a culture that emphasizes planning for a career over preparing for a family, marriage is just not something many young adults spend time considering.
Of course, marriage is not a requirement for leading a meaningful life. It’s possible to thrive as a single adult with close ties to friends and family, and it’s possible to be lonely in an unhealthy marriage. For both singles and married couples, it’s vital to maintain other connections that fulfill the need for depth and intimacy. Strong marriages, however, supply a built-in antidote to loneliness — just one of many reasons to cherish and protect the institution.
Katelynn Richardson is a summer 2022 Washington Examiner fellow.
