Recent 2025 and 2026 sociological data from the University of Chicago and the Institute for Family Studies consistently show that both men and women are significantly happier than their single or cohabiting counterparts. However, there is a nuance in the "happiness premium": married women (especially mothers) are currently reporting the largest gains in life satisfaction. While the "old ball and chain" trope suggests marriage benefits men more, modern research suggests that married women now live longer, earn more, and report more meaningful lives than single women. For men, the "happiness gap" is also massive; married fathers are nearly twice as likely to report that their lives are meaningful compared to single, childless men. Overall, the data suggests that the stability and social support of a committed marriage act as a powerful buffer against the "longevity and loneliness" crises often observed in the mid-2020s.