Der Einzug steigert das Glück älterer Paare, aber durch die Heirat entsteht kein zusätzlicher Funke. Die Studie legt nahe, dass im Gegensatz zu gängigen Theorien zu Geschlecht und emotionaler Abhängigkeit Männer nach dem Scheitern einer Beziehung nicht mehr leiden als Frauen und auch nicht mehr davon profitieren, eine neue Partnerschaft einzugehen.

>Moving in with a romantic partner later in life appears to boost life satisfaction for both men and women, yet formalizing that union through marriage does not provide an additional psychological benefit if the couple is already living together. A new analysis of long-term data suggests that contrary to popular theories regarding gender and emotional reliance, men do not suffer more than women after a relationship breakdown or gain more from entering a new partnership. These [findings](https://doi.org/10.1177/01650254261419712) were published in the International Journal of Behavioral Development.

>Social scientists and psychologists have spent decades trying to understand how romantic relationships influence mental health. A prevailing theory suggests that men and women experience these transitions differently due to the way they structure their social lives. Societal norms often encourage women to maintain wide networks of emotionally intimate friendships.

>In contrast, men are frequently socialized to rely heavily on their romantic partners for emotional support. This dynamic implies that men should theoretically experience a steeper decline in well-being when a relationship ends, as they are losing their primary source of emotional connection. Conversely, men should theoretically experience a sharper increase in well-being when entering a relationship, as they regain that vital support system.