Becoming dad at 37 'happiest moment for men'

Men are at their happiest when they have reached the age of 37 and are settled down, a study has revealed.

That’s the age when they are likely to have become a father and formed their closest friendships.

The survey of 1,000 men also revealed that almost half would rather spend time with their partner than their mates, the Daily Express reported.

Becoming a father was the best day of their life according to 43% of those polled.

After becoming a father, the most significant days of a man’s life were the day he got married, a favourite sports team’s big win and the day he bought a house.

And it is the little things in life which matter to many, with one in three saying lunch is the highlight of their day

The research, carried out for online menswear retailer Jacamo, found one in four men enjoys splashing out on DVDs, clothes and gadgets, exploding the myth that it is only women who like to shop.

“It’s great to see that becoming a father and getting married is the key to men’s lasting happiness,” Jacamo spokesman Lucy Dobson said.

“And when it comes to day-to-day activities which bring happiness, nothing beats a decent lunch followed by a splurge on some new clothes.”

Spending time with friends also came high on the list of things which make men happy, while 26 percent confess that having an “innocent flirt” puts a smile on their face.

One in four said they perk up after a cup of tea, while 20 percent said the highlight of their day is a surprise home-cooked meal

When it comes to who they want to spend their free time with, not everyone opted for their partner. Just under 30 percent said would choose their mates or their children.

Just five percent said they would prefer to spend leisure time with work colleagues.

Other things which brought men happiness were having time to read the news or even receiving a text.