Can parenthood make us miserable? How couples with children are LESS happy than those without (but only if they're married and earn over $50,000)



The happiest people are married, earn between $50,000 to $75,000 and don't have children, according to new research by a leading psychologist.



Daniel Gilbert, professor of psychology at Harvard , told a conference in Boston, Massachusetts last week that his mother's three keys to happiness were marriage, money and kids .

But after extensive research he concluded that she was 'partially right' on the first two 'ingredients' but wrong on the third, as childless adults are much happier than parents.



The secret to happiness: The most content people are married, earn $50,000 to $75,000 and don't have children, according to a leading psychologist

During his lecture titled Happiness: What Your Mother Didn’t Tell You, Prof Gilbert , who has a son and grandchildren, explained: 'Once people have kids, there’s a downturn in happiness.



[Children are] not a source of happiness.'

In his 2006 best-seller, Stumbling On Happiness, he writes that children give adults many things but an 'increase in daily happiness is probably not among them.'

He adds that psychologists found many adults were less happy interacting with their kids than doing activities such as eating, watching television or even exercising.



'Once people have kids, there’s a downturn in happiness... children are not a source of happiness'

At last week's talk he said that after a decline, parents' happiness levels return to baseline after their children leave home.

'The only symptom of empty nest syndrome, is non-stop smiling,' he noted , before adding, 'Of course we love our kids, I never said don’t have kids.'

He highlighted marriage as a key component of happiness and a worthwhile 'investment'.



His research showed that married people do better on nearly every indicator of happiness - such as life satisfaction and health - compared to those who are unmarried.

'They are healthier, live longer, have more sex,' he explained.

Searching for happiness: Daniel Gilbert professor of psychology at Harvard

Unsurprisingly the quality of a relationship is connected to how happy people feel.

On average he said marriage leads to increased happiness for 'eight to 15 years,' although these levels may diminish over time.

Meanwhile he highlighted that staying in a bad marriage makes people unhappy, and divorce is often the best remedy.



Turning to money, Prof Gilbert said his mother was right and wealth does bring contentment.

However he warned that too much cash can have a negative emotional impact.

'Of course money buys happiness,' he said. 'A little money can buy you a lot of happiness, though a lot of money buys you only a little more happiness.'

He suggested that those on higher salaries don't spend their money wisely and rich people who don't work are rarely satisfied.



'People are happiest when the mind is engaged, People are [also] happier when they give money away rather than spending it on themselves,' he said.



He put the optimal income for happiness between $50,000 to $75,000.



The average household income in the U.S. is $52,762 according to the latest data available.