Married adults find life exciting into old age

Those who have read books like Eat, Pray, Love may come away thinking that single life is the path to endless fun and excitement. After all, spontaneity may be harder to embrace after settling into marriage and family life. But data from the General Social Survey suggest a different story. Married Americans in their 20s are about as likely to report that life is exciting as their unmarried peers. Notably, married adults from their 40s through their 60s are significantly more likely to find life exciting than both their never-married and divorced peers. Into old age, unmarried adults become increasingly likely to describe life as “dull” or “routine.” Perhaps walking down the aisle doesn’t mark the end of adventure but the beginning of a new one.

by Isabella Dini