Anecdotally I've asked close friends for genuine answers and from my perspective they seem convinced they are happier.
That being said I have also (fewer) close friends who have told me they are less happy. So you have a point.
That being said I have also (fewer) close friends who have told me they are less happy. So you have a point.
The fact is, you will encounter plenty of misery in life regardless. You should not choose based on what makes you happy, but arguably based on what kinds of misery you are more suited to - the misery of having children or the misery of not having children.