Articles tagged with Happiness
A study found that communities with low monetization have remarkably high levels of happiness, comparable to Scandinavian countries. The researchers interviewed 678 people and found that social and economic factors play a bigger role in higher monetized sites.
A new study by Matthew Killingsworth from the University of Pennsylvania found that money does influence happiness, contrary to previous research suggesting a dollar-value plateau. Higher earners experience increased feelings of control over life, leading to greater well-being.
A new study by Anglia Ruskin University found that spending time outdoors is associated with higher levels of happiness during COVID-19 restrictions. The research also showed that daily screen time and loneliness are linked to lower happiness levels, but outdoor activities can mitigate these effects.
A global comparison of two happiness tests reveals that cultural context is crucial for accurate measurement. The interdependence-focused Japanese test was more reliable in East Asian countries, while the independence-focused US test performed better in Western European nations.
Research from 63 countries reveals different happiness tests are effective in Western and Asian cultures, with the Eastern Interdependent Happiness scale performing consistently across countries, contrary to the unreliable Western Subjective Happiness Scale. The study expands on the understanding of happiness beyond Western ideals.
Research by the University of Illinois Chicago found that older children derive more happiness from experiences than possessions. To enhance memories and social value, families can take pictures or videos during events.
New research from UBC Okanagan finds that how people use social media impacts their overall happiness. Passive scrolling and comparison can lead to negative emotions, while direct interactions can enhance emotional well-being.
A recent study published in Aging and Mental Health suggests that wisdom is a strong protective factor against loneliness. The research, conducted in both San Diego and Cilento, Italy, found a significant inverse correlation between loneliness and wisdom across different age groups.
Researchers found loving-kindness meditation to be more effective in increasing happiness and positive emotions, while compassion meditation also did not result in negative emotions growth. Self-compassion played a key role in the positive effects of compassion meditation.
A recent study by SMU psychology professor Nathan Hudson found that people experience higher levels of happiness when socializing with friends compared to spending time with family members. The research revealed that being around romantic partners predicted the least amount of happiness among these three groups.
New research from the University of Zurich and Radboud University found that people's capacity for hedonism contributes at least as much to a happy life as successful self-control. Distracted thoughts can undermine immediate pleasure, while consciously planning downtime can help enjoy it more
Researchers found that 79% of participants were consistently married, while 8% were consistently single; however, the happiest groups had varied relationship histories or lived single their whole lives. Married individuals showed a slight increase in happiness, but not substantially.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that improving subjective well-being through online and in-person interventions had positive effects on self-reported physical health. Participants who received the intervention reported increasing levels of happiness and fewer sick days compared to control participants.
A new study from the University of Bath and LSE found that realists experience the highest long-term happiness compared to optimists. The research suggests that making decisions based on accurate expectations can lead to better outcomes and increased well-being.
Researchers tracked eye movements of children aged 5, 8 and 10, and adults, finding they looked longer at faces congruent with heard voices. The study suggests a spontaneous amodal coding of emotions, enabling children to make connections between vocal emotion and facial expression from age 8.
A recent study published in SSM - Population Health examined the impact of 18 major life events on wellbeing, including marriage, death of a loved one, and bankruptcy. The study found that some events had profound impacts on wellbeing, while others had little to no effect.
A new study published in The Review of Economic Studies found that using a coin toss to decide on an important change leads to higher satisfaction and happiness. People who made changes were more likely to report the same decision again in the future.
A recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that consumers derive more happiness from experiential purchases than material ones. The researchers recruited over 2,600 adults and monitored their emotions and purchasing behavior, discovering that happiness was higher for those who spent on experiences a...
A study of 591 people reveals that prosocial choices initially increase happiness, but this effect is reversed after a month. The findings suggest that prosociality may not always lead to increased happiness.
German and Canadian psychologists have developed a predictive model for relationship longevity, identifying key features that indicate a successful or unsuccessful partnership. Couples who start with similar needs and maintain individual independence tend to stay together longest, while those with differing happiness levels are more li...
A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that connectedness to nature has a positive association with sustainability practices and behaviors in children, leading to higher levels of happiness. The study suggests that promoting exposure to nature can encourage pro-environmental behaviors and environmental care in younger g...
A study by University of Arizona researcher Terrence Hill found that gun ownership is not associated with improved happiness or better sleep. Gun owners were more likely to be married, which was driving their reported happiness. However, a separate study on sleep disturbance showed no difference between gun owners and non-gun owners.
The study analyzed the correlation between happiness levels and Arab Spring protests, finding that countries with lower happiness levels were more likely to experience unrest. The researchers also discovered that GDP per capita had a weaker correlation with protest activity than initially thought.
A review of recent research in personality science suggests that personality traits can change through persistent intervention and major life events. Researchers identify neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness as key targets for policy interventions.
Researchers found that humans' ability to recognize dog emotions is mainly acquired through age and experience, rather than being an evolutionarily selected trait. Participants who grew up in a cultural context with a positive attitude towards dogs were better at recognizing their emotions, regardless of whether they owned a dog themse...
A new index uses data from books and newspapers to measure national happiness over 200 years, revealing that economic booms and busts have little long-term effect on well-being. The study found increases in longevity and post-war stability had a significant impact on happiness, while wars had a lasting negative impact.
Researchers found that strict labor laws lead to higher levels of temporary and informal employment, resulting in reduced happiness and life satisfaction among these workers. Women tend to feel the impact at a deeper level.
A study by Binghamton University found that viewing wealth as a sign of success yields better results for life satisfaction than viewing it as a sign of happiness. Happiness materialism can lead to dissatisfaction and neglect other areas of life, while success materialism boosts economic motivation and future satisfaction.
A study by the University of Vermont found that visitors to urban parks use happier words and express less negativity on Twitter after their visit, with a lasting effect. The impact is comparable to the mood spike on Christmas Day, highlighting the importance of green spaces for mental health.
A new study by researchers at the University of Warwick and others found that living within 300m of urban green space is associated with greater happiness, sense of worth, and life satisfaction. The study used data from 25,518 people in London and found that proximity to green space was more important than lifestyle factors.
Researchers at HSE University have developed a method to measure subjective well-being by analyzing fans' emotional state through photos. The study found that uncertainty about match results can increase unhappiness by 13.6% in males, while females tend to be more affected.
A new study published in PLOS ONE suggests that social network structure is a significant predictor of health, happiness, and stress levels. By analyzing data from participants' Fitbits and survey responses, researchers found a strong correlation between social network characteristics and individual wellness states.
Researchers from the University of Surrey found that ideal leisure activities for happiness and carbon reduction include goal-oriented pastimes like sports, reading, and socializing. However, these activities can be done in low or high carbon ways, emphasizing the need for a two-pronged approach to address long-distance travel.
A recent study from the University of Adelaide found that having braces does not necessarily lead to increased happiness or psychosocial outcomes in later life. In fact, people who did not receive orthodontic treatment were significantly more optimistic than those who had braces treatment.
Researchers found Mona Lisa's smile was non-genuine due to its asymmetry, indicating a lack of happiness on the right side. The study suggests that Leonardo da Vinci may have deliberately included an asymmetric smile to convey hidden messages or emotions.
A review in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry suggests that wisdom is a complex concept that contributes to mental health and happiness. The authors propose that wisdom can be defined as a complex human trait with several specific components, including social decision making, emotion regulation, and self-reflection.
A study by the University of Granada found that white people have difficulty identifying genuine smiles on black faces, whereas they can accurately detect such differences among other whites. This bias is linked to racial stereotypes and a lack of eye contact with individuals from different groups.
New research from UCLA suggests that predicting little change in one's future self is strongly related to increased life satisfaction. People who expect to remain the same tend to be more satisfied with their lives ten years later, while those expecting improvement or decline report less satisfaction.
Research shows that delayed streaming, low-cost education, increased university enrollment, and second-chance opportunities reduce the happiness gap between social classes. Countries like Denmark with inclusive policies have smaller social differences in happiness.
Researchers at Iowa State University found that practicing loving-kindness and extending good wishes to others reduces anxiety, increases happiness, and fosters social connection. The study suggests that this simple strategy is effective regardless of personality type.
A study by Florida State University found that older immigrant populations in the US have higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction compared to native-born individuals. Hispanic immigrants exhibited the highest overall life satisfaction, likely due to cultural factors such as strong social support networks and spirituality.
The rise of psychotherapy in Uganda reveals distinct views on happiness and mental health across the country. In Northern Uganda, psychotherapy services emerged to address post-war traumas, while upper-middle-class Kampalans prioritize wellness and seek private psychology practices.
Researchers found that nearly one-third of persons with schizophrenia had 'normal' wisdom scores, which correlated with fewer psychotic symptoms, improved cognitive performance, and enhanced everyday functioning. Assessing and enhancing wisdom may help improve the quality of life for individuals with schizophrenia.
A new study from Michigan State University suggests that finding someone who is nice and conscientious can lead to higher levels of relationship satisfaction. The research found that even among couples with similar personalities, traits like neuroticism and extroversion have a negative impact on relationship happiness
A recent study found that positive well-being is associated with a lower risk of depression in adults with autism. The research followed 36 newly employed adults with autism and discovered that interventions targeting mental health and well-being in the workplace may be necessary to improve outcomes.
Researchers discovered a link between air quality and happiness in Chinese cities, finding that higher pollution levels are associated with decreased happiness. Women and those on higher incomes were found to be more sensitive to pollution's impact.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found that brief happiness exercises can significantly increase in-the-moment happiness for adults recovering from substance use disorders. The study suggests these exercises may be promising tools for bolstering happiness during treatment and supporting long-term recovery.
Researchers identified 17 unique facial expressions that convey happiness across cultures, while finding only 8 universal expressions for other emotions like fear and surprise. The study used a dataset of over 7.2 million images from 31 countries to confirm the findings.
A Baylor University study finds that Americans are happier in states that spend more on libraries, parks, and highways. Public goods spending makes communities more livable with more amenities, boosting home values and social connections.
Research by the American Psychological Association found that whites and non-black minorities have difficulty distinguishing genuine from fake smiles on black faces, which can lead to negative outcomes in interracial interactions. The study suggests that this bias may be related to reluctance to make eye contact with black faces.
A study published in Psychological Science found that participants' happiness did not decline when they repeatedly gave gifts to others, unlike when they received identical gifts. The researchers suggest that giving may help maintain social connection and belonging, leading to a slower adaptation to happiness.
Academics found that past unemployment experiences had a lasting impact on happiness levels, even after re-employment. The study suggests that the transition from communism to capitalism contributed to the 'transition happiness gap'.
Researchers at UNIGE and UNIBE developed an emotional intelligence test to measure skills in work environments. The test, called the Geneva Emotional Competence Test (GECO), evaluates understanding emotions, recognizing emotions, regulating one's own emotions, and managing other people's emotions.
A study by researchers at the National Research University Higher School of Economics found that people tend to attribute their happiness to internal factors such as personality traits and control over their lives. However, when they are unhappy, they often blame external factors outside of their control.
Researchers identified two genetic variants associated with meaning in life and six with happiness in a massive study. The findings suggest that biological differences play a role in variations in meaning and purpose in life.
A study found that individuals from higher social classes experience more happiness from experiential purchases, while lower-class individuals derive more happiness from material goods. This is due to differences in resource availability and consumer motives.
Researchers found that people with general goals reported more happiness over time, especially six weeks after the initial experience. This approach may be beneficial for experiences like material purchases or vacations, leading to a longer-lasting positive emotional imprint.
A new method for compressing film plots into short, silent video clips has been developed using facial expression tracking. The research found that audiences prefer clips with a specific sequence of scenes, including a key scene placed towards the end, to increase happiness and watching intention.
A study by Dr Harry Witchel at Brighton and Sussex Medical School found that smiling is linked to subjective engagement, not happiness. In one-to-one Human-Computer-Interaction experiments, participants smiled more when answering questions incorrectly.
Researchers found that religious people regularly assign significance to unremarkable events, leading to positive emotions like gratitude and contentment. The study suggests that giving meaning to everyday events is a general phenomenon across religious groups.