Older adults happier living together than getting married, new study shows

Moving in with a partner makes older adults happier than marriage, according to a new study. This is a key finding for people over 50 looking for more life satisfaction.
By Newsroom | Health, Relationships |

Key Relationship Milestones Offer Varied Impacts on Older Adults' Happiness

For individuals over the age of 50, the question of how romantic relationships influence happiness and overall wellbeing is a subject of ongoing research. While common belief often links marriage to a definitive boost in life satisfaction, recent studies suggest a more nuanced picture. The evidence indicates that for older adults, the act of moving in with a partner may provide a more significant and measurable increase in wellbeing than the legal status of marriage itself. Conversely, the breakdown of a relationship, while often assumed to be detrimental, does not appear to cause a statistically significant decline in happiness for this age group.

Getting married later in life provides NO boost to wellbeing, study finds - but moving in with a new partner does - 1

Background: Focusing on Gains in Later Life

Much of the existing research on aging and relationships has concentrated on the negative impacts of loss, such as the death of a spouse or a painful separation. However, a shift in focus towards "gain events"—moments when a new romantic partner enters an older person's life—is providing new insights. Studies have specifically examined how events like moving in together and marriage affect depressive symptoms and life satisfaction among individuals aged 50 to 95.

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Getting married later in life provides NO boost to wellbeing, study finds - but moving in with a new partner does - 2

Evidence of Relationship Event Impacts

Several studies have compared the wellbeing of individuals before and after significant relationship transitions:

Getting married later in life provides NO boost to wellbeing, study finds - but moving in with a new partner does - 3

  • Moving In vs. Marriage: Research indicates that life satisfaction often increases significantly when individuals move from living alone to cohabiting with a romantic partner. This elevated level of satisfaction tends to be maintained after moving in.

  • Marriage's Additional Effect: While moving in with a partner appears to be a substantial turning point for life satisfaction, the subsequent act of marriage does not consistently show a further significant increase in happiness. In some instances, the happiness level observed when living together and anticipating marriage is not surpassed by marriage itself.

  • Gender Neutrality: Contrary to assumptions that men might benefit more from stable relationships than women, studies have found no significant gender differences in how these relationship events impact happiness in later life.

  • Separation's Milder Impact: Unexpectedly, relationship breakdowns in this older age group have not led to a measurable decline in wellbeing, challenging common expectations.

Relationship EventImpact on WellbeingNotes
Moving in with a partnerSignificant increase in life satisfaction.This transition appears to be a key factor in boosting happiness.
MarriageLittle to no additional boost in life satisfaction beyond that of cohabitation.The legal status itself may not add substantially to the happiness derived from living together.
Separation/BreakupNo measurable decline in wellbeing.This finding is contrary to common expectations.
Cohabitation (pre-marriage)Peak happiness observed when living with a partner and planning marriage.Suggests anticipation and shared living are highly valued.
Single vs. MarriedSome studies suggest single individuals have lower life satisfaction and health compared to married people.However, this contrasts with findings that cohabitation offers a more distinct wellbeing boost than marriage.

The Distinct Value of Cohabitation

The central finding across multiple studies is that the transition to cohabitation with a romantic partner is a powerful driver of increased life satisfaction for older adults. This boost appears to be more pronounced and consistently measured than any additional benefit derived from the legal act of marriage. One study's findings suggest that peak happiness is often experienced when older adults are living with their partner and contemplating marriage, implying that the shared domesticity and companionship of cohabitation are central to their wellbeing.

Getting married later in life provides NO boost to wellbeing, study finds - but moving in with a new partner does - 4

Marriage's Health and Social Ties

While the additional happiness boost from marriage beyond cohabitation is debatable, other research points to potential benefits of marriage, particularly when compared to being single. Some studies suggest that married individuals, regardless of age, may report higher life satisfaction and better health outcomes than their single counterparts. Married individuals, especially in the United States, have also reported stronger family support, which contributes to their overall wellbeing. Marriage has also been linked to certain health advantages, including a lower risk of depression and, in some cases, improved survival rates for serious illnesses like cancer. Additionally, later-life marriages are sometimes characterized by deeper emotional compatibility and may lead to more frequent sexual activity, which is associated with cardiovascular health and stress reduction.

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Expert Perspectives

Researchers Iris Wahring from the University of Vienna, in collaboration with teams from Humboldt University in Berlin, the University of British Columbia, and Stanford University, have spearheaded investigations into these "gain events" in later life. Their work has systematically compared the effects of moving in and marriage on depressive symptoms and life satisfaction. Their findings underscore that the event of establishing a shared life appears more influential on wellbeing than the formal marital status for older adults.

Conclusion and Implications

The current body of research indicates that for individuals aged 50 and above, the decision to move in with a romantic partner provides a significant and measurable enhancement to their life satisfaction. While marriage is associated with positive outcomes, especially when contrasted with remaining single, it does not consistently offer an additional wellbeing boost beyond that already achieved through cohabitation. The resilience of this age group to relationship breakdowns also presents a notable finding.

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Future research could explore the qualitative differences in relationships that lead to marriage versus those that remain cohabitations. Understanding the long-term sustainability of wellbeing gains from cohabitation and the specific factors that contribute to marital happiness in later life remains an important area of inquiry. The findings collectively suggest that for older adults, the practical realities of shared living and companionship hold a greater immediate impact on happiness than the legal institution of marriage.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did the new study find about older adults and happiness?
A new study shows that for people over 50, moving in with a partner makes them happier than getting married. The happiness boost from living together is often bigger than any extra happiness from marriage.
Q: Does marriage still help older adults' happiness?
Marriage can still help older adults be happier and healthier than if they stay single. However, the study found that marriage does not add much more happiness compared to already living with a partner.
Q: What about relationship breakups for older adults?
The study found that when older adults end a relationship, their happiness does not go down in a way that can be measured. This is different from what many people expect.
Q: Who did the research on older adults' happiness and relationships?
Researchers from the University of Vienna, Humboldt University in Berlin, the University of British Columbia, and Stanford University worked together on this study. They looked at how events like moving in and marriage affect people over 50.