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Who's Happier: Men or Women?

Posted: Thursday, September 27, 2007 8:20 AM by Dan Fleschner
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This morning, NBC News correspondent John Larson did a piece discussing who is happier: men or women. According to two studies by professors at Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania, the results are in, and it turns out that men are happier than women. WATCH VIDEO

On average, the studies showed, women are unhappy about 90 minutes more per week than men.

According to The New York Times, this is a shift in happiness research since the 1970s, when women said they were slightly happier than men. One of the studies also indicates that since the 1960s, men have cut back on unpleasant activities and now relax more.

Women, meanwhile, are taking on more tasks than they did four decades ago. They have replaced housework with paid work, but that doesn't mean that the work at home has gone away. As such, women's "to do" lists have grown, but there is still a finite number of waking hours in which to get everything done. And it's stressful when things don't get crossed off those "to do" lists.

So what do you think -- do these studies get the happiness question right?

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Thank you. The Princeton study has confirmed my "full plate" theory. As a working mother there is a steady stream of "I must do" thoughts permeating my daily routine, and I see vast differences in the responsibilities of my girlfriends and those of their husbands. For the most part, moms are the ones who know how much detergent is in the house, when the kids' next dentist appointments are, and what school projects are due. We may not be depressed more often, perhaps just overwhelmed.

Doylisa, Ashland, KY (Sent Thursday, September 27, 2007 8:44 AM)

This study confirms what we women have "unofficially" known for years. As a Professional Life Coach dealing with women's life/work balance issues, I see this playing our daily in my clients lives.
It has also been widely known (if not widely admitted) for years that married women are less happy than their single counterparts whereas married men are more happy then singles.

Lynn Browne, Saratoga Springs, NY (Sent Thursday, September 27, 2007 4:48 PM)

I agree!  When you have more things to do, more things to focus on, then focusing on yourself becomes the last thing on your mind.  If women had more time to relax we could focus on ourselves and inevitably be happier.  Start doing what you really want and your life will be happier tenfold.

Rachel (Sent Thursday, September 27, 2007 4:52 PM)

Women do so much more then men. Men talk about doing things but can never figure out how to do it, women just do it, whatever needs to be done. Women work, cook, clean, take kids everywhere, do the bills, keep track of everything in the house. If a man can't find one thing, he throws a fit. Are women happy, the women I know are happy, as long as that man loves them, then it is all worth it.

Joanne Deutch (Sent Friday, September 28, 2007 1:20 PM)

I adore these comments.  I think all women should focus on what they truly love to do.  To find themselves and to follow their dreams.  The pursuit of happiness is one's sole responsibility to nature.  The problem is that women are not selfish enough, and thus not as happy as men.

B. Bweaselgub (Sent Friday, September 28, 2007 3:02 PM)

My husband travels approximately 45-60% of the time.  I have a full-time job AND two children and a step-son.  Also my youngest is 7 months old!  When my husband is gone so much, EVERYTHING falls into my lap: the transportation, the housework, the child-care ... all after a full workday.  So factoring everything together, my "real workday" starts at 6am and goes to 10pm or whenever I get to sleep depending on the chores that need to be done.

He does the bills ...

Sara Vanderhei (Sent Friday, September 28, 2007 3:02 PM)

Hurray.  Women are now feeling the repercussions of the entitlement/privilege movement (under the false pretenses of equality).  Welcome to the wonderful world of corporate America.  You wanted it, you got it! Women wanted the change not men.  We obviously are not changing our habits because you want more choices.   We have none of the choices that you have.  Now we get to kick back and let you do all the work for a change.  ENJOY!!!  hahahahahaha

Equality (Sent Friday, September 28, 2007 3:14 PM)

As a post-menopausal professional mom of a blended family (children ranging in age from 17-30), I agree with all the above comments.  Additionally, I would like to add that we are expected to look and dress like twenty-year olds when we are fifty, to share their vim and vigor when joints begin to ache.  

Patricia Muego, Sandusky, Ohio (Sent Saturday, September 29, 2007 6:45 PM)

Yes men are happier then women, it just goes to prove ignorance is bliss. Women have to know and understand all aspects of daily living. Running the household, caring for the kid's, maintaining a job, cleaning, childcare,insurance, budget,schedules,etc, etc...I'm tired just writing this....oh we also have to be ready for romance. Do you think their really ignorant or smart enough to play dumb..Honey where's the....

Claire Zimmer, Lompoc, CA (Sent Saturday, September 29, 2007 9:58 PM)

I'll be the first male to come out and comment here, sure women are now less happy than men. Until '73 men were very unhappy because of the draft. Also, men used die earlier due to the stresses of the corporate world smoking and drinking, until as of the past 15 years since women started worknig, smoking, and drinking openly and in public. I don't think men are as threatened as they were when women first started in the workforce, I think that now they see it as relief. Women innately take on more things, so men can pawn off err i mean delegate, their work to a woman and have a high quality product with little time invested. I am not going to play a sex card here, but I will say this:
You can have it all, work and family, but you will have no time for yourself, until your old and your kids are all off and supporting themselves.

amansperspective (Sent Monday, October 01, 2007 11:36 PM)

Let us address "Mr. Equality"..." "Women wanted the change, not men"...let's dig deeper into this one...

...Woman wanted the change because Woman were not going to put up with staying in marriages for the sake of the marriage...Woman weren't going to put up with their husbands "CHEATING" on them any more...they were fed up with it all (brought on by men)...this is when woman "NEEDED" to get out and find employment to support themselves (and in most cases children, as well)...It wasn't like ["poof"...we think we want a career because we're bored"] ...men brought this on...it was all just a matter of time...we just wanted to be paid the same amount money for the same amount of work...sadly...we are still not equal in this area!

...As for choices, we all have the same choices...it is all in how you execute them!

...As for "Now we get to kick back and let you do all the work for a change"...THIS IS HOW IT'S ALWAYS BEEN...WOMAN CARRYING THE BRUNT OF EVERYTHING...

...Mr. Equality...what a complete jacka$$!!!

KC Plummer, Bel Air, MD (Sent Tuesday, October 02, 2007 1:02 PM)



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