The Globe and Mail
According to a Gallup poll published in The World Global Happiness Report if you are a Canadian your happiness index was 6.9 out of 10 (maximum happiness), if American, 6.7. Compared to other countries, Canada placed 15th and the U.S. 23rd. The happiest countries were Finland (7.7), Denmark (7.6), and Iceland (7.5). Interestingly, in both countries as well as Northern Europe, the older generation is significantly happier than the younger one. [1]
Happiness, much like love, is one of the emotions and experiences in human life that is highly valued yet, in some ways, the most elusive. Turning to the academic literature for assistance to address thus riddle, it becomes quickly apparent that happiness is complex and cannot be defined or measured using just one dimension.
Subjective well-being is a very active area of research with about 170,000 articles and books published on the topic in the past 15 years. [2] These studies show that certain factors such as personality, health, social relationships, religious belief and employment are strongly and positively associated with happiness [3, 4].
The most reliable predictors of life satisfaction are personality traits of extraversion, conscientiousness and emotional stability [5].
In addition to these largely genetically inherited traits influenced as they are by family constellations, child rearing, education and culture are lifestyle choices including healthy diet and exercise on the positive side and spending too much time watching TV or on the computer, alcoholism and substance addictions on the negative side.
All studies agree that fostering one’s physical and mental health increases a person’s chances for a happy life. The positive relationship between health and happiness is likely reciprocal: being healthy enhances happiness and being happy benefits your health.
One such study conducted by medical researchers in Shanghai found potential causal evidence that better mental well-being, measured by life satisfaction, mood, neuroticism, and depressive symptoms, promote a longer and healthier life.
A surprising finding of this research was that when it looked at 33 mediators, or factors that contribute in varying degrees to increased well-being and, thus, healthier aging, eating more cheese was found to contribute more significantly than eating fresh fruit. [6].
While high fat foods are often considered detrimental to health, studies at University College Dublin suggest that in moderation, the consumption of dairy fat can lower cholesterol and reduce mortality from all causes including cancer [7]. Findings from Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China reinforce the above and assert that cheese consumption has neutral to moderate benefits for human health [8].
While studying in Boston, I had the good fortune of meeting Abraham Maslow, professor of psychology at Brandeis University. In 1945 he first published his “hierarchy of needs that motivate humanity” and then continued to expand on these needs that include basic (physical, safety), social (love, esteem), and self.
Physical needs must be satisfied before social needs, and social needs before self-fulfilment. To act unselfishly, a person must have met their most basic needs, an achievement that leads to growth and self-actualization and, we may add – happiness [9].
Yew-Kwang Ng, distinguished fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, suggests a higher fifth level, not of self-actualization, but “beyond oneself” a concern for the welfare of others including animals. [10]
Actions or activities that an individual undertakes to benefit or protect the environment have been shown to dramatically boost human happiness. [11] “There is mounting evidence, from dozens and dozens of researchers, that nature has benefits for both physical and psychological human well-being,” says Lisa Nisbet, PhD, a psychologist at Trent University in Ontario, who studies connectedness to nature.
“You can boost your mood just by walking in nature, even in urban nature. And the sense of connection you have with the natural world seems to contribute to happiness even when you’re not physically immersed in nature.” [12]
This does not preclude important instrumental values of happiness, including success in one’s career and productivity or work performance.
Charles Henri DiMaria from the Laboratoire d’Economie d’Orléans in Paris has proposed that promoting subjective well-being is not only desirable on its own but leads to higher productivity and the economic prosperity of the country.
A word about perfectionism. While I think it is important in life to apply oneself fully and professionally to any enterprise, striving to be the perfect son or perfect father or writing the perfect column is a surefire recipe for grief and disappointment.
There is now research to show that, as Tzuhsuan Ma has written, “As soon as you release yourself from being perfect, you would be surprised just how many ways there are to solve a problem.” [13] My advice: have realistic expectations and aim for very good rather than perfect and you will enjoy life a lot more.
Does Money Buy Happiness? The answer is, yes and no. At any given time, those with higher incomes are generally happier, both within and across nations, but over time, happiness does not increase as incomes rise. A key reason for this paradox is that our satisfaction with our income depends much on how it compares to the incomes of others [14].
And I cannot let you go before I tell you about a recent study by Kira Birditt, research professor at the University of Michigan who found that couples who drink together live longer [15]. This is not advocating for increased consumption of alcohol. Rather the study emphasizes the importance of shared lifestyle habits for both health and relationship satisfaction.
And remember, most people derive happiness by helping others in need, animals or humans. So, make a contribution to your own happiness and increase the happiness of others.
References
1. The World Happiness Report (2024). http://doi.org/10.18724/whr-kk3m-b5862.
2. Diener, Ed & Tay, Louis (2017). A scientific review of the remarkable benefits of happiness for successful and healthy living. In Happiness Transforming the Development Landscape (pp. 90–117). The Centre for Bhutan Studies and GNH.
3. Amato, P. R., & James, S. L. (2018). Changes in spousal relationships over the marital life course, In: AlwinD., FelmleeD., Kreager D. (eds). Social Networks and the Life Course, Frontiers in Sociology and Social Research, vol 2. Springer, Cham, pp. 139–158.
4. Leng, X., Han, J., Zheng, Y. et al. (2020). The Role of a “Happy Personality” in the Relationship of Subjective Social Status and Domain-Specific Satisfaction in China. Applied Research Quality Life. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-020-09839-w
5. Obylin´ska, D., Zajenkowski, M., Lewczzuk, K. et al. (2020). The mediational role of emotion regulation in the relationship between personality and subjective well-being. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00861-7
6. Ye, C. J., Liu, D., Wang, Y. Y., … & Wang, T. G. (2024). Mendelian randomization evidence for the causal effect of mental well-being on healthy aging. Nature Human Behaviour, 1-12.
7. O’Connor, A., Feeney, E. L., Noronha, N., & Gibney, E. R. (2022). Determination of factors associated with serum cholesterol response to dairy fat consumption in overweight adults: secondary analysis from an RCT. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9, 945723.
8. Zhang, M., Dong, X., Wang, Y., … & Giovannucci, E. L. (2023). Cheese consumption and multiple health outcomes: an umbrella review and updated meta-analysis of prospective studies. Advances in Nutrition, 14(5), 1170-1186
9. Maslow, A. H. (1954/1970a/1987). Motivation and Personality. New York: Harper & Row.
10. Yew-Kwang Ng (2022). Happiness, Concept, Measurement and Promotion. Springer Singapore.
11. Venhoeven, L. A., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2016). Why acting environmentally-friendly feels good: Exploring the role of self-image. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1846
12. Weir, Kirsten (2020). Nurtured by Nature. APA Monitor, vol. 51, no. 3.
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature
13. Ma, T., & Hermundstad, A. M. (2024). A vast space of compact strategies for effective decisions. Science Advances, 10(25), eadj4064.
14. Easterlin, R. A. (1973). Does money buy happiness? The public interest, 30, 3.
15. Birditt, K. S., Turkelson, A., Ware, E. B., & Blow, F. C. (2024). Alcohol Use and Mortality Among Older Couples in the United States: Evidence of Individual and Partner Effects. The Gerontologist, 64(2), gnad101.
16. DiMaria, C. H., Peroni, C., & Sarracino, F. (2020). Happiness matters: Productivity gains from subjective well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 21(1), 139-1608.
17. Delle Fave, Antonella, Massimini, Fausto & Bassi, Marta (2011). Hedonism and eudaimonism in positive psychology. In A. Delle Fave (Eds.) Psychological Selection and Optimal Experience across Cultures. Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology, 2: 3–18. New York: Springer.
Editor’s note: (July 10, 2024): A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the Shanghai study focused on 33 individuals; that the study was conducted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; and that the study found people who eat cheese registered 3.67 per cent higher in self-rated health. It looked at 33 mediators which were selected by the study authors, who have several medical and academic affiliations in Shanghai; and 3.67 indicates the contribution to happiness made by consuming cheese relative to the 32 other mediators. This version has been updated.