Married parents have a clearer sense of the future

It is often claimed in public discourse that parents lose themselves in parenthood. However, recent survey data tells a different story. According to polling from the Institute for Family Studies for the 2026 State of Fertility Report, married parents report a clearer sense of their future than their unmarried or childless peers. Fewer than half of unmarried or childless adults feel they have a clear sense of the future, compared with nearly two-thirds of married parents. This gap provides further evidence that family can be a cornerstone of purpose and direction in life.

by Peter Foreshaw Brookes