Podcast Summary
Young Americans' happiness decline: Young Americans under 30 have lower happiness levels than ever before, causing the US to fall out of the top 20 happiest countries for the first time since the World Happiness Report began.
The 2024 World Happiness Report revealed young people in North America, specifically Americans under 30, are experiencing lower happiness levels than ever before. This resulted in the United States falling out of the top twenty happiest countries for the first time since the report began. The report, which measures happiness through life evaluations, is a collaborative effort by the Gallup Organization, Oxford Well-being Research Centre, UN Sustainable Development Solutions, and the editorial board. Happiness is primarily measured through people's satisfaction with their lives, as determined by the "Cantral ladder" question. Obtaining nationally representative samples for over 136 countries is a significant undertaking, but Gallup has been committed to this for decades. The report's focus this year was on age, and it delves into the latest evidence on happiness throughout the lifespan and the factors that influence it. The findings highlight the need for further research and interventions to address the declining happiness levels among young people in North America.
Young adult happiness gap: Young adults in North America, particularly in the US, report lower happiness and life satisfaction compared to older adults and young adults in most other regions. The pandemic may be a contributing factor.
The Gallup Organization goes to great lengths to gather representative data on happiness and well-being from hard-to-reach areas around the world, not just from easy-to-reach urban regions. A notable finding from the 2023 World Happiness Report is that young adults in North America, particularly in the United States, are reporting lower levels of happiness and life satisfaction compared to older adults and to young adults in most other parts of the world. This trend is contributing to a lower overall ranking for the United States in the report. The pandemic may be a contributing factor to this trend, as investigations by the Lancet COVID-19 Mental Health Commission have shown that mental health and well-being have been negatively impacted by the pandemic, especially among younger people.
Young people's well-being and COVID-19: The impact of COVID-19 on young people's well-being varies greatly around the world, with young adults in Central and Eastern Europe reporting some of the highest levels of happiness, possibly due to government support, local community resources, and societal expectations.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people's well-being varies greatly around the world. While young adults in North America and some western regions report a significant drop in well-being, young adults in Central and Eastern Europe report some of the highest levels of happiness. This could be due to differences in government support, local community resources, and societal expectations. The World Happiness Report 2022 is the first to focus on age differences in such detail, as young people's well-being is a strong predictor of their overall happiness and success as adults. Understanding youth well-being is crucial as happier young adults tend to earn more money, have stronger relationships, and be more engaged citizens. The availability of global data on young individuals is limited, so the report's editorial team waited for the best available data to analyze this important topic.
Gender and Happiness: Despite minor differences in happiness levels between men and women in wealthier nations, young women in North America have reported lower levels of well-being, particularly during COVID-19. Social factors like expectations and social connections also impact happiness.
Global data suggests only minor differences in happiness levels between men and women, especially in wealthier nations. However, young women in North America have reported lower levels of well-being, particularly since COVID-19. Wealthier nations tend to rank higher in self-reported life satisfaction due to financial security and other social factors, but expectations for happiness also play a role. Finland, which consistently ranks high in the World Happiness Report, may do so because its citizens have reasonable expectations for happiness that are easier to meet. The report highlights that while GDP per capita is a key predictor, other social variables like healthy life expectancy, social connections, and generosity also contribute to national differences in happiness.
Expectations and Happiness: Expectations play a crucial role in individuals' perception of happiness, and having modest expectations may lead to greater satisfaction and closer proximity to perceived success. The World Happiness Report focuses on life satisfaction, and the inclusion of India's data on older adults' well-being is a significant step towards understanding global happiness levels and aging populations.
That happiness is not only influenced by objective reality but also by individuals' relative expectations. Modest expectations may lead to greater satisfaction and closer proximity to perceived success. Furthermore, the World Happiness Report's focus on life satisfaction, rather than joyful emotions, is essential to understanding happiness across the globe. The addition of India to the report is significant as it is one of the most populated regions, and the first data from a national survey on older adults' well-being in India is a large-scale effort to understand global happiness levels and aging populations. Parallels were found between the findings in higher-income countries and India, emphasizing the importance of expanding data collection to various cultures and populations. One of the researcher's favorite studies on generosity and happiness is a study that demonstrated how acts of kindness and giving to others can increase happiness levels. The first study, conducted early on, showed that people who gave to others reported greater happiness than those who did not. This finding has been a driving force behind the researcher's continued exploration of the relationship between generosity and happiness.
Giving vs Self-Spending: Spending money on others leads to greater happiness than spending on oneself, as observed in various studies and cultures, including among children
Spending money on others, rather than on oneself, leads to greater happiness. This was discovered in a study where participants were randomly assigned to spend money on a gift for themselves or for someone else. Those who spent on others reported higher levels of happiness at the end of the day, regardless of the amount of money received. This finding has intrigued researchers for over a decade, leading to studies in various cultures, ages, and lived experiences. Even among young children, the joy of giving was observed when toddlers smiled more while giving away treats that belonged to them, compared to identical treats that didn't. These findings suggest that generosity, especially with financial resources, can bring significant happiness to individuals and may be a consistent aspect of the human experience.
Acts of generosity and happiness: Even small acts of giving can bring happiness and strengthen relationships, while reaching out to old friends can be challenging, but a warm-up activity can make it less daunting.
Even in the face of personal hardships, people can experience happiness through acts of generosity, no matter how small. Research shows that giving, even if it means sacrificing one's own resources, can lead to positive emotions. This effect is not limited to large donations or grand gestures; even small acts of giving can bring joy. Our social nature is a significant factor in this phenomenon, as giving allows us to build and strengthen relationships with others. Another interesting finding comes from a study conducted by researchers, including Jillian Sandstrom, on reaching out to old friends. People often find it difficult to reconnect with old friends, despite caring about them. The only situation that seems to encourage people to reach out is a birthday. The researchers found that people's reluctance to contact old friends is similar to their reluctance to perform other socially awkward tasks, like picking up garbage or talking to strangers. To help people overcome this reluctance, the researchers found that a successful intervention is to have them engage in a warm-up or practice activity, such as writing a letter to an old friend, which can make the actual act of reaching out feel less daunting.
Social Connection Activities: Engaging in social connection activities increases the likelihood of following through and sending a message, compared to simply browsing social media.
Engaging in social connection activities, such as reaching out to old friends, can increase the likelihood of following through and sending a message. In an experiment, participants who practiced sending messages to current friends and family before drafting a message to an old friend were more likely to send the message (over 50%) compared to those who simply browsed social media (only about 30%). This finding adds to the growing body of research on the importance of social connection and its impact on our behavior. Additionally, the researchers are exploring other forms of generosity, such as advice giving and food sharing, and how expressing gratitude can enhance these interactions. Overall, the study highlights the value of proactively engaging in social connection activities and the positive impact it can have on our actions and relationships.