The secret of happiness is not money but health
A recent study has shown that in the long run happiness does not depend on money, but on health
[1] In a recently published report of more than 300 000 people from America, it is stated that there are no noticeable differences between happy and unhappy persons regarding income or employment status and money.
[2] The results of this research project contradict many earlier studies which have found a positive correlation between income and happiness
[3] According to Professor Ed Diener from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, “Money is only a small part of what makes people happy. Our study corrects several misinterpretations of earlier findings.”
Happiness and money
A new research report claims that while there might be an association between income and happiness, it does not hold true in the long run.
One reason for this discrepancy could be that once people reach a certain “material comfort” level, other factors come into play to determine their mood. For instance family life, health, social environment etc. However, researchers point out that these factors do not necessarily always go hand in hand with increased incomes.
According to Professor Ed Diener from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champ “Money is only a small part of what makes people happy. Our study corrects several misinterpretations of earlier findings.”
Among the factors which make poorer people less happy are, for example, loneliness and depression. But when they reach a certain level of income, other factors in their lives come into play to determine their happiness. These include family life, health or social environment.
For instance in Japan, unhappiness among older persons has been rising steadily despite an increase in average incomes over the past decades. This is mainly due to increasing social isolation caused by modernization and urbanization. Another reason why this trend seems so appealing could be that during recessions, “happiness” surveys often show an increase in reported happiness. Because unemployment can be a relief from work-related stress. Or because people appreciate having more free time to devote to their families.
Health and happiness
In the study conducted by Professor Ed Diener it was found that in order for higher incomes not to have a negative impact on happiness, two conditions must be met:
– Incomes should lift people above the average income level of their society
– Any further increase in income has to have only a weak relationship with increased life satisfaction.
The results of this research project contradict many earlier studies which have found a positive correlation between income and happiness. One reason for this discrepancy could be that once people reach a certain “material comfort” level. Other factors come into play to determine their mood.
For instance, in Japan unhappiness among older persons has been rising steadily. Despite an increase in average incomes over the past decades. This is mainly due to increasing social isolation caused by modernization and urbanization. According to Professor Ed Diener “Money is only a small part of what makes people happy”. Another reason why this trend seems so appealing could be that during recessions. “Happiness” surveys often show an increase in reported happiness. Perhaps because unemployment can be a relief from work-related stress. Because people appreciate having more free time to devote to their families.
Here are some FAQs recently asked about this article:
Why isn’t it first paragraph first sentence first thing?
It should be first. — This is a very hard question to answer. I guess we need to go back to the old times. Where stories were told around campfires and around family dinner tables. When talking about past events, you began the story with what happened last or next to last (e.g., “Then she called her friend”.) This also makes for easier reading. Because your mind doesn’t have to try and remember all of the details before getting started. Some research has shown that beginning a sentence with a number. (Such as this 3rd para above), like we do in English, can make for more confusing sentences. Especially when the numbers are just pure numbers, not words that are meant to be read as a number.
How should this article have been published?
My answer is in the above answer. The original version was written for submission into academic journals. This site has requested that I re-write it for their readership. We have done so with great care, providing links within the text whenever possible. To direct you to original sources wherever possible so that you can verify our conclusions. The conclusions are soundly researched and thoughtfully presented. But they do not include every detail found in the original journal articles. Because these details would only distract from what you have really an interest in knowing.
Conclusion:
It is obvious that health should consider as the most important factor for happiness. However, are many negative factors that affect our health. Including the economic crises that many countries are facing at this time? Our health is our most important wealth!