Summary: There are two views of marriage in western culture: as being the "happily ever after" that we all aspire to, and as being the end of personal freedom and the start of responsibility and boredom. But which of these views actually reflects reality, according to the research and stats?<br> <br> The good news is that research universally shows that marriage is a good thing and that getting married is one of the strongest predictors of having a happy life. Research also identifies several factors which contribute to the increase in happiness marriage brings, such as the increased support and friendship you get from your spouse and the shared sense of meaning and purpose you create. And not only is a happy marriage something to aim for in itself but it can also protect you against all kinds of hardships in life.
