In recent years,researchers have attempted to use a variety of statistics and surveys to answer a question that's occupied countless generations of philosophers:What makes us truly happy?
While some evidence suggests that happiness may be linked,in part,to relative wealth—how we're doing compared to those around us—overall the old adage that money doesn't buy happiness seems to hold true.
“We are materially so much better off than we were 50 years ago,but we're not one iota happier,” says Chris Peterson,a psychology professor at the University of Michigan.
That's no surprise to happiness expert David Myers,who sees happiness as more closely correlated with people rather than things.“We humans have a deep need to belong—to connect with others in close,supportive,intimate,caring relationships,” he says.“People who have such close relationships are more likely to report themselves ‘very happy'.”
We've compiled a list of seven factors that influence rates of happiness and depression.Many of these factors vary from city to city and region to region.Here's your chance to see how your city compares.
He Works Hard for His Happiness
Does working make you unhappy or happy?The answer:It depends.Toiling away at a job you hate may eat away at your happiness over time.But overall,being unemployed is worse for your state of mind than being employed—at least,that is,if you're a guy.
The Pew Research Center found that the percentage of men who said they were “very happy” was significantly lower for unemployed men (16 percent) than for employed men (37 percent).Unemployment had little impact on women's happiness.
The Pew researchers speculate that this is because more women than men are unemployed by choice,although the study didn't attempt to tease apart that difference.
Chris Peterson,a happiness researcher at the University of Michigan,suspects there are other factors at play as well.“Other studies have found that if a man loses his job,it can have both short-term and long-term psychological effects,even if he finds another job with equal salary,” he says.“For women it's not unemployment that leads to unhappiness,but divorce.”
In addition,Peterson stresses that money matters less than you'd think.“The engaged custodian is more likely to be happy than the independently wealthy,unengaged millionaire,” he says.“We didn't evolve to be retired and sit on the couch.”
Time for Family,Friends,and Community
In the growing field of happiness research,one thing is overwhelmingly clear.People who are socially engaged are more likely to be happy—and less likely to be depressed—than those who aren't.
In fact,Time Magazine poll found that the four most significant sources of happiness—children (77 percent),friendships (76 percent),contributing to the lives of others (75 percent),and spouse/partner (73 percent)—all involved spending meaningful time with other people.