Women Are Happier Than Men, Science Finds

One researcher explains the power of the "happiness gene."

By Kristin Wong Aug 28, 2012 2:58PM

Earlier this year, a study found that women are happiest when men can empathize with their sadness. For men, the key to happiness is a bit simpler—they're happy when women are happy.

Well, there's good news for guys. Women, apparently, are quite happy. In fact, we're happier than most men, according to research from the University of Florida.

The Heart Beat talked to Dr. Henian Chen, a lead scientist in a recent study titled, "The MAOA Gene Predicts Happiness."

Chen and his researchers interviewed 350 men and women and measured their happiness on a scale of one to seven.

"We measured happiness by a widely used and validated happiness scale developed by scientists at University of California," Dr. Henian tells us.

From there, they took saliva samples from each of the 350 subjects, testing their DNA. Chen's work explains that the MAOA gene comes in two forms—a highly active type and a less active type. Women with the less active type were happier than others, and women with two copies of the "happy" type of MAOA were even happier.

But bad news for boyfriends, not only did less of them have the MAOA gene, when they did have the gene, it didn't seem to affect their happiness. Apparently, it only works for women. Chen explained that testosterone could possibly obscure the effects of the gene in men:

"Maybe men are happier before adolescence because their testosterone level is lower," Chen said.

The MAOA gene has made headlines in the past, known for causing aggressive behavior.

"It's even called the warrior gene by some scientists," Henian explains.

The gene affects the part of the brain involved with emotion, so it may help explain why women are generally thought to be the more excitable, emotional sex.

The MAOA gene is also responsible for fluctuating moods. So men, if your partner seems to be fine one minute and upset with something the next (guilty!), you're likely not imagining things. Men's immunity to the gene could also explain why they're generally considered to be the calmer sex. I know I've occasionally felt like my partner is uninterested because he doesn't display the same level of excitement as I do. But apparently, I'm just more genetically predisposed for happiness than he is.

It's not news that men and women are wired differently, but this gene further clarifies the differences, and it can help shed a light on relationship behavior.

In his study's abstract, Chen also points out that couples who are married tend to be happier overall:

"A study by Helliwell in 2003 showed that the highest subjective well-being level was associated with being married."

Indeed, quite a few studies have linked marriage to well-being. So based on the information, it might be safe to deduce that married women are the happiest demographic out there.

When we asked Dr. Chen why this study was important, he told us that most studies focus on extreme behavior. He wanted to study something that could apply to everyone:

"We need more studies on positive feeling (psychology) for normal people because most of us are normal."

Photo: Paul Bradbury/Getty Images

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133Comments

Best

Aug 29, 2012 6:25AM

I asked my wife. Yes she said that she was happier than I am. And I am the reason for that happiness. Fancy that?

Previous replies

Busta Moobs

Aug 29, 2012 5:33AM

All I need is a happy meal, and im good.

I learned early in life that you cant be happy if you depend on someone else for it. Its served me well.

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Big D12

Aug 29, 2012 8:35AM

Women have all the choices in life if there is enough money. They can work or they can stay home and either situation is considered completely socially acceptable. Men are expected to work, and while it may be portrayed in the media as okay for men to be "house husbands," it isn't in the real world.

I don't care because I like to work but I just wish women would quit whining in the media about how "put upon" they are. Ladies, you won the revolution, ..........act like it.

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JackWiskey

Aug 29, 2012 3:50AM

Science aside, women today are free to be whoever or whatever they want to be. Men are still locked into the stereotype of being protector and provider.

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tobyboy321

Aug 29, 2012 2:55AM

I think part of why women are happier is that over the last 40 years women have received much support and attention to their development and opportunities. I'm not saying that is bad, but the same attention has not been given to men. Men are assumed to have everything available to them, while women are portrayed as being oppressed and having limited opportunities and thus needing development programs to get them ahead. Again, I am not criticizing the needs and progress of women, but want to contrast that with men. If someone proposes a special academic program to help men acheive and succeed in math and science for example, it would be labeled sexist by some, but the same program for women would not raise an eyebrow for being unfair. Look at the ratios of women to men in most colleges, some are near 60-40 in favor of women, but nobody says we need more men in college. If the same ratio were reversed, as it was many years ago, many called that injustice and rallied for the cause. No one does the same for men, and there are many areas where this applies- men have needs that are being neglected because the stereotype is that they don't need or deserve help. I have crippling shyness, self-confidence, slow learning and social issues, yet no one gives a damn. All the sympathy and programs are for women.

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sparkster57

Aug 29, 2012 11:54AM

I'd be happier too if I could find a meal ticket instead of working 60 hours a week.

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whosworld318

Aug 29, 2012 4:29AM

Most Women think as themselves as these Princesses waiting for Mr right. How about you get off your throne and do something with your life so you wont be dependent on someone? Every time I hear about some women looking for Mr right it sounds like they are ready to be whisked away from the work place, the admin assistant job they have and become a housewife and later a mom with some financial stable guy(code for loaded). Funny how Mr right always has a few bucks and is ready to deal with their BS. Then they divorce years later after she can cleanup and claim child support and alimony besides getting half.

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MR WARMTH

Aug 29, 2012 8:32AM

Oh really........how old were these women....how much did they make.....How many kids did they have .......none? Where they house wives? Apparently I got the wrong damn woman!!