People believe that having children is the to happiness and a family life. This image is for some, but researchers say that in reality, children make parents happiest when they fly the - when they leave home. Researchers looked at from a of 55,000 over 50-year-olds in Europe. The respondents were quizzed about their wellbeing. They discovered that parents were happier with after their offspring had left home. Researchers say this could be because raising children creates financial worries, stress, tiredness and .
The lead , Christoph Becker, concluded that a big for parents being happiest when their children leave home is the tables are turned and children provide more to their parents. The parents suffer from less and are more positive about life. Regarding the reversal in providing support, Mr Becker said: "Children's roles as , providers of financial or simply as a means of social contact might outweigh the aspects of parenthood." He added that family relationships stave off loneliness in parents.
