Researchers investigated the origins of happiness, focusing on internal traits versus external circumstances like relationships and job satisfaction. Their study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, involved over 40,000 respondents from various countries who assessed their life satisfaction across multiple years. The findings categorized individuals based on whether their happiness stemmed more from internal factors, such as personality traits, or external factors like health and economic status. The research suggests that public policies should be designed to accommodate both internal and external influences for improved societal happiness.
The scientists gathered survey data from over 40,000 people who had participated in prior surveys of life satisfaction over a period of up to 33 years.
We have to understand the sources of happiness to build effective interventions," said first author Dr. Emorie Beck, Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Davis.
If happiness is primarily attributed to external factors, public policy should target improving things like health and economic stability.
Internal factors such as personal qualities and attitudes suggest policy approaches should focus on improving mental states through therapy, meditation, and mindfulness.
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