A research paper by Dr. Kitae Sohn, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, explored whether a husband’s height has any bearing on his wife’s happiness. Using data from a large-scale Korean survey, the study found a positive correlation between a husband’s height and his wife’s reported happiness. In fact, the greater the height difference, the happier the wife — but only to a point.
🧪 What the Study Found:
Women married to taller men reported being happier in the early years of marriage. The study hypothesized that a taller height may be subconsciously associated with strength, protection, and good genetics, which could boost a partner’s initial attraction and satisfaction.
Interestingly, this height-based happiness was not permanent. The research noted that the effect waned over time, disappearing entirely after about 18 years of marriage. This suggests that while physical traits like height may influence initial attraction and early marital satisfaction, long-term happiness likely depends on deeper emotional, behavioral, and compatibility factors.
🌏 Cultural Context:
It’s worth noting that the data came from South Korea, where cultural norms may place more emphasis on male height as a symbol of desirability and success. This effect may not be as strong or even exist in all countries or cultures.
💡 The Takeaway:
While it’s fun to think that height might give someone a “happiness advantage” in relationships, true long-term happiness depends far more on emotional connection, shared values, mutual respect, and communication.
So yes, being tall may help – but only for a while.
