While it's an age old notion that having children is the ultimate source of fulfilment and meaning in life, a new study has claimed that childless couples have happier marriages.
The research by the Open University found that people without children are more satisfied with their relationships and are more likely to feel valued by their partner than couples with children, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The study, which involved interviews and surveys with more than 5,000 people of all ages, statuses and sexual orientations, found that both men and women without kids ranked the quality of their relationship more highly than those who had children.
Couples without kids also did significantly more to ''maintain'' their relationship, such as taking time to go out together or talk, than those with children.