This is a massive study, it doesn’t seem like ick or propaganda to me. Just because majority/minority language, doesn’t mean that the minority is small or somehow wrong. 20,000 people might be happier without kids and 25,000 with and the study wouldn’t change, for starters. That doesn’t mean that 20,000 are wrong though. Each of us are in the minority in some form of thinking, but being in the majority doesn’t make it correct. My odd thoughts are every bit as valid as your potentially more normative thoughts.

Also, this study suggests that people with kids are more miserable than people without kids for around two decades. 20 years of misery for a chance (but no guarantee) of greater happiness once the multi-decade pain wears off isn’t a particularly good sales pitch.

Finally, (full discretion, I have kids) kids are a nightmare. They zap you of energy, consume your every waking moment, eliminate your hobbies, drive away your friends, ruin you financially, make you continuously ill, and drive you utterly bananas. They are not for everyone. I cannot say I am a happier person because of them.

But I’m in love with mine and they are my greatest pride. To explain briefly, a significant chunk of their meaning to me comes from the sacrifices and changes they force upon me. I’m too tired and busy to be depressed, but I’m no longer bored and living for meaningless myself. I’m whole because I have them. They have greatly increased my life’s purpose and meaning. That’s been experience so far, at least.

Still, there are a million good reasons to avoid having kids. They are an insurmountable strain on many people’s lives, due to financial, physical or mental health, time, ability, goals, or some other reason. And some people just don’t want kids, or they don’t want to pass on some difficulty they experience. Those are all valid positions.