Do your kids make you happy? Can’t imagine life without them?

A surprising new study suggests kids really don’t raise the happiness stakes for most Americans. In fact, childless couples are just as happy as those with kids. Princeton researchers came to that conclusion after pouring over surveys done by nearly 1-point-8 million people. All were asked to report life experiences on a daily basis. Parents experience more daily joy and more daily stress than nonparents… but approximately the same level of life satisfaction as those without little ones at home. Overall, those who live with children were more likely to be married, have a higher income, be better educated, more religious, and healthier.

Despite these factors, the authors say there is no reason to expect American adults who deliberately select parenthood to rate their lives more highly than adults who deliberately do not select parenthood.

I’m Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV with the news doctors are reading health news that matters to you.

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