(Press-News.org) WASHINGTON – For people living in both rich and poor countries, the average person's happiness is based on a combination of individual wealth, possessions and optimism, according to an analysis of new worldwide survey findings published by the American Psychological Association.
A country's gross domestic product per capita did not have as much of an impact on the average person's happiness, according to research based on responses of 806,526 people in 135 countries from 2005 to 2011. Happiness expert and psychologist Edward Diener, PhD, of the University of Illinois, led the study, which is published in APA's Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
"We've found that rising income does lead to rising happiness, but it depends on people being optimistic, not having sky-high desires, and the average person being actually able to afford more things. So income is helpful, but only in certain circumstances," said Diener.
Some of the main findings were:
Increases in household income were associated with improved life evaluations and more positive feelings.
GDP per capita was less related to respondents' feelings of personal well-being than rising personal income.
Increased wealth was primarily linked to improvements in well-being if people were able to purchase more material things, such as a television and access to the Internet, in addition to being more optimistic and satisfied with their finances.
Researchers gathered data from the first Gallup World Poll, which conducted surveys by telephone and door-to-door visits. Respondents rated their lives on a scale from zero (worst possible life) to 10 (best possible life) and answered questions about positive or negative emotions experienced the previous day. The researchers looked at each country's gross domestic product per capita, obtained from the International Monetary Fund, and each respondent's household income.
To measure the participants' level of material possessions, the survey asked if they had enough money for food, whether they had enough money for shelter, if they owned a television set and if their household had an Internet connection. It also asked about their optimism for the future and their satisfaction with their current standard of living.
This new research helps bring clarification to the "Easterlin Paradox," a concept introduced in 1974 that suggested the economic growth of nations does not lead to more happiness, according to Diener.
"According to the 'Easterlin Paradox,' rich individuals are happier than poor ones but rising incomes do not seem to be associated with an increase in happiness," he said. "Our research contradicts this concept by finding that rising income will only have an effect if aspirations or desires do not rise even more quickly. If people make more money, they can be happier. But if they are constantly disappointed because they expected to make even more money, then rising income might not help."
###
Article: "Rising Income and the Subjective Well-Being of Nations," Ed Diener, PhD, University of Illinois and The Gallup Organization; Louis Tay, PhD, Purdue University; and Shige Oishi, PhD, University of Virginia; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, online Oct. 29, 2012.
Full text of the article is available from the APA Public Affairs Office and at
http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/psp-ofp-diener.pdf
Contact: Ed Diener at ediener@illinois.edu
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 137,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.
www.apa.org
If you do not want to receive APA news releases, please let us know at public.affairs@apa.org or 202-336-5700.
Increases in personal income important for happiness worldwide, new study says
Rising incomes that coincide with higher optimism key to well-being
2012-12-03
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Public Relations and Social Media Expert to Advise Nonprofit Leaders at New Jersey Conference
2012-12-03
Public relations and social media expert Joyce Luhrs will provide free one-on-one consulting about public relations and publicity to nonprofit leaders attending the Center for Non-Profits' annual conference, Riding the Winds of Change: Harnessing Our Collective Power. Nonprofit leaders and executive directors of organizations throughout New Jersey will participate in the daylong event on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Monroe in Jamesburg, New Jersey.
A public relations, marketing and grants consultant with over 20 years experience, Ms. Luhrs is volunteering ...
Dr. James Perdue Releases New Book and New Website For Those Who Have Their Dreams
2012-12-03
Dr. James Perdue an, author, public speaker and inspirational motivator has launched a new book to support the new addition to his website "A One More Play" new print version published by Westbow Press.
Many people lose sight of their dreams especially those that have suffered a disability as Dr. Perdue. Some people deny their dreams or simply fall into depression because of certain failures.
After becoming a quadriplegic at the age of nineteen, James persevered past his paralysis by completing his doctorate degree, becoming an educator and coach, and now ...
Fine Art Photographer Steve Giovinco in Groundbreaking Museum Exhibition "the kids are alright"
2012-12-03
Exploring complex contemporary family life and couples through the lens of photography, fine art photographer Steve Giovinco is included in the stunning museum exhibition, "the kids are alright."
The fine art photography show is at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin and runs through January 20, 2012.
The exhibition concentrates on contemporary photography and time-based media by nearly 40 artists who bring the bedrock theme of family into the 21st Century. THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT includes award winning and widely exhibiting photographers ...
Small Business Payroll System: EzPaycheck Improved To Helps Small Firms Do More For Less
2012-12-03
"Payroll tax processing and year-end tax reporting should not be a pain for small business owners," said Halfpricesoft.com founder Dr. Ge. "We believe small business software should be simple, reliable and affordable - so we intentionally engineered this software for business owners who are not professional accountants and payroll tax experts."
EzPaycheck, the payroll and check printing software, from Halfpricesoft.com gives small and mid-size businesses another option to calculate payroll tax, print paychecks and file tax forms easily and quickly. ...
Ukietech Team Helps Orphans on Saint Nicholas Day
2012-12-03
The Maltese Cross Corps charity organization has a long, great tradition of organizing the "Saint Nicholas Goes to Orphans" action shortly before Saint Nicholas Day on December 19th. The mission of the action is to raise funds and get presents for orphans and disadvantaged children.
Every child in the Ukraine looks forward to the night of December 19th, when Saint Nicholas, the Ukrainian version of Santa Claus, comes to their room and leaves presents under their pillow. Also, on this day, children write letters to Saint Nicholas with their list of presents.
This ...
Starlight Children's Foundation Florida Launches Mobile Giving Campaign
2012-12-03
Starlight Children's Foundation Florida is making helping seriously ill children as simple as a text message. With their new mobile giving campaign, anyone can text the word "SMILES" to 80000 to donate $10 to the non-profit organization.
When a child or teenager has a serious medical condition, everyone in the family is affected. Ongoing donations will ensure that more families have access to Starlight's entertainment, education and family activity programs which distract children from their pain, help them better understand and manage their illnesses, and ...
Top Woman's Career Resource, Career Woman, Inc., Named Blog of the Year
2012-12-03
Career Woman, Inc., a Seattle-based career coaching and consulting firm, recently received the Gold Blog of the Year award from the Stevie Awards for Women in Business for its insightful, resource-rich and action-oriented blog. CareerWomanInc.com also received a Bronze award in the Website of the Year category.
Founded by Lisa Quast, Career Woman, Inc.'s mission is to close the gender gap around inequality of pay and stature by providing women with the necessary tools to obtain career success. Offering timely and thoughtful blog entries, Career Woman, Inc. offers readers ...
Famed Parisian Couturier Jacques Fath Is Revived
2012-12-03
A century after the iconic French designer Jacques Fath's birthday, the Parisian design house, The House of Fath, reemerges with an accessories collection that gives air to the same mysterious edge, wild imagination, and playful excess that earned this self-taught designer the moniker "Little Prince of Paris Haute Couture".
Not only was Jacques Fath considered one of the three most dominant influences on postwar haute couture, along with Christian Dior and Pierre Balmain, but he was also one of the first designers to introduce prêt-a-porter to the American ...
APT Partners To Postpone Opening Of Small Cap Only Department
2012-12-03
APT Partners Managing Director Dr William Becker this morning announced that despite his recent statements, the company will not move ahead with its plans to open a dedicated small cap centre until the end of 2013 due to the company's current workload and short-term contracts in the pipeline.
The planned office would have served to provide a walk-in centre for small business owners to get information on initial public offerings and stock market floatation. Recently instated Managing Director, Dr William Becker said "We will push forward with this planned restructuring, ...
All-Pro Science Announces the Signing of Two Elite MMA Fighters as Athlete Endorsers
2012-12-03
All-Pro Science, Inc. (APS) has announced today that Cody "The Renegade" Gibson and Dave "The Fugitive" Jansen have both signed on to become part of an elite team of athlete endorsers known as TEAM APS. TEAM APS includes top athletes such as MLB Colorado Rockies All-Star Troy Tulowitzki, MLS FC Dallas Co-Captain Andrew Jacobson, WMX Superstar Sarah Whitmore and NFL standouts Nick Folk of the New York Jets, Virgil Green of the Denver Broncos, T.J. Ward of the Cleveland Browns and Bryan Hall of the Baltimore Ravens. APS athletes are not paid endorsers, ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
In chimpanzees, peeing is contagious
Scientists uncover structure of critical component in deadly Nipah virus
Study identifies benefits, risks linked to popular weight-loss drugs
Ancient viral DNA shapes early embryo development
New study paves way for immunotherapies tailored for childhood cancers
Association of waist circumference with all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities in diabetes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2018
A new chapter in Roman administration: Insights from a late Roman inscription
Global trust in science remains strong
New global research reveals strong public trust in science
Inflammation may explain stomach problems in psoriasis sufferers
Guidance on animal-borne infections in the Canadian Arctic
Fatty muscles raise the risk of serious heart disease regardless of overall body weight
HKU ecologists uncover significant ecological impact of hybrid grouper release through religious practices
New register opens to crown Champion Trees across the U.S.
A unified approach to health data exchange
New superconductor with hallmark of unconventional superconductivity discovered
Global HIV study finds that cardiovascular risk models underestimate for key populations
New study offers insights into how populations conform or go against the crowd
Development of a high-performance AI device utilizing ion-controlled spin wave interference in magnetic materials
WashU researchers map individual brain dynamics
Technology for oxidizing atmospheric methane won’t help the climate
US Department of Energy announces Early Career Research Program for FY 2025
PECASE winners: 3 UVA engineering professors receive presidential early career awards
‘Turn on the lights’: DAVD display helps navy divers navigate undersea conditions
MSU researcher’s breakthrough model sheds light on solar storms and space weather
Nebraska psychology professor recognized with Presidential Early Career Award
New data shows how ‘rage giving’ boosted immigrant-serving nonprofits during the first Trump Administration
Unique characteristics of a rare liver cancer identified as clinical trial of new treatment begins
From lab to field: CABBI pipeline delivers oil-rich sorghum
Stem cell therapy jumpstarts brain recovery after stroke
[Press-News.org] Increases in personal income important for happiness worldwide, new study saysRising incomes that coincide with higher optimism key to well-being