Findings

• 8 elements

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Race/culture
  • Money
  • Relationships
  • Work
  • Happy people
  • Faith
• Age

  • Surveyed 170,000 people in 16 countries
  • Mean score was 80% satisfaction
  • At different ages different things contribute to happiness (eg - health comes more important)
  • People experience crisis at any time not just a particular part (mid-life) - Costa
• Gender

  • 16 countries
  • 80% of men and 80% of women are fairly satisfied with life
  • Gender accounted for 1% of global well being
  • Women twice are vunerable to depression (Robins & Regier)
• Race/Culture

  • African americans report twice as much happiness as european americans
  • Portugal 10% of people reported happiness
  • Netherlands 40% of people reported happiness
• Money


  • Astin - 75% of USA college students selected “being well off financially“ a life goal compared to 39% who did not in 1970
  • Correlation between money and happiness is only moderate
  • Forbes rich list - 37% of rich people were less happy than average american
  • Brief increase of happiness from lottery winning
  • Variations between rich and poor in countries (Bangladesh - with money report higher SWB)
  • Once certain level reached, wealth makes little difference
• Relationships

  • Cause more stress (Paul Sarte)
  • Benefits outweigh cost
  • People who can name many close friends are happier than those who cannot (Burt)
  • Married people are happier than un-married people, 39% vs 24% (Lee)
• Work

  • Out of work: unhappy
  • If unsatisfied: Unhappy
  • Mihaly: concept of flow

  we get caught up in an activity so that other things matter less

  Used beepers to questions participants on activities and feelings

  • People are happier when they are engaged in mindful challenge and experiencing flow
• Faith

  • USA and Europe: religious people report higher happiness
  • High spirtual commitment: twice as likely to be happy