Nearly 40,000 British households are under the lenses of researchers from Economic and Social Research Council for next 20 years as they are trying to understand the impact of socio-economic circumstances on their lives, under a program `Understanding Society'.

The early results of Understanding Society study reveals that Young, married couples without baby are the happiest ones'.

The researchers found that having a baby disturbs the equilibrium and affects the happiness equation between the couple. The couples whose children are yet to step into school feel more bogged down or less happy while parents of school going children are happier as a couple.

The children living with single parent were likely to be less cheerful. Having younger siblings also associated lower levels of happiness among children.

Moreover, the couples are more likely to be happy, if both partners had gone to University for study. The figures also reveal that unemployment has an adverse effect on relationship between couples.

David Willets, Minister for Universities and Science, says that it will help government in developing better policies and channel their efforts towards helping the needy. The government has funded the study and has provided 48.9 million pounds for the same.