SIMPLY HEALTH: Are You Happy?

posted 10/06/2008
Uncertainty and worry seem to be rampant this month, evidenced by the media's frequent use of words like dire and disaster. Yet, a couple months ago, researchers at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research found that a large majority of people surveyed around the globe were both happy and satisfied with their life in general, reflecting an increase in the last quarter century. Denmark was the happiest; the United States was 16th on the list; Zimbabwe was the least happy. Have things really changed in the past month? Just what is happiness and how do we benefit?

Happiness has intrigued philosophers since antiquity, and more recently has been under acute scrutiny by economists, sociologists and psychologists. Happiness is an intangible, sometimes fleeting emotion. Many now agree that happiness is a sense of joy at being alive, an appreciation for and satisfaction with one's life. Policy makers are now interested in happiness because happier citizens have been found to be healthier and more productive.

Happiness increases when our needs for food, shelter, and affection, are met. What doesn't correlate with happiness is income, marital status, or level of education. Princeton researcher and 2002 Nobel prizewinner Daniel Kahneman found that after meeting basic needs, the pursuit of more money created more intense negative emotions, tension and stress. With more income, more "needs" arise, thus more time is spend making more money, leaving less time for leisure or social interactions with friends and family.

Interestingly, pursuit of wealth beyond $12,000. per capita ($48,000/year for a family of four) does not result in greater happiness. Yet there are governance issues that have been demonstrated to improve the happiness quotient of nations. Democracy improves choice which adds to happiness. Equality and tolerance enhance a society's sense of freedom which in turn boosts happiness.

Yet many people pursue happiness as a goal—searching for a higher income, the ideal job, or perfect body. Americans had over 10 million cosmetic procedures done in 2005, 90% of them by women. How happy did those new noses, breasts, bellies and faces make those women, and for how long?

What Creates Happiness

Spending time with friends and family
Feeling connected to community
Engaging in meaningful activities that utilize your talents.
Having spiritual beliefs or religious faith.
Having food and shelter needs met.
Living in a society with choice, equality and tolerance.
Helping other people.
Expressing gratitude every day.

Medical researchers have studied happiness, especially David Blanchflower of Dartmouth College, who found that in countries where people were happier, there was less hypertension. Chronic unhappiness triggers the stress response (fight or flight) that raises blood pressure and decreases the immune response - which increases susceptibility to illness. In addition, a recent review of thirty studies on happiness demonstrated that happiness has a health protective effect, improving longevity by 7 to 10 years - similar to the benefit of not smoking. Wow!

Research in Great Britain has shown that both increased physical activity level and a diet with greater intake of fruits and vegetables not only improved physical health but each independently resulted in significantly brightened mood. The methods used to make these changes included growing food, cooking projects, walking clubs and dance classes - all socially interactive, community-building activities. Maybe it's time to re-popularize the victory garden and block parties.

A decade ago, Dr. Martin Seligman, Director of the University of Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology Center and author of "Authentic Happiness" refocused much psychological research on how to promote happiness. Since then, research on happiness has doubled, spawning several excellent books and websites.

Sonja Lyubomirsky, professor of psychology at UC Riverside, based her research on identical twins, concluding that happiness is 50% genetic, 40% intentional and 10% circumstantial. That would explain why those who win the lottery are no happier a year later. Her book, The How of Happiness focuses on how to consciously create happiness by how we think and act.

What happened to that happiness I was ‘born' with, you might ask? Well, if you are in your middle years and feeling a bit down in the dumps, look forward to more happiness. A study released in January 2008 showed people the world over tend to be quite happy in their youth with a dip in mid life. Happiness then increases, with a fall off in old age - but only if health is poor. It is felt that as we age, we worry less about what others think, put life events into perspective, let go of impossible dreams and find more contentment with acceptance of ourselves and our lives.

Modern research on happiness was pioneered in this country by Edward Deiner who co-authored Happiness - Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth. In an interview in the L.A. Times last month, Dr. Deiner said it best:

"If you have no goal other than your personal happiness, you'll never achieve it. If you want to be happy, pursue something else vigorously and happiness will catch up with you."

Happiness Resources

Dr Seligman's questionnaires, resources and related links
www.authentichapiness.org

Dr. Deiner's Satisfaction with Life Scale and others
www.psych.uiuc.edu/~ediener/

University of Pennsylvania positive Psychology Center www.ppc.sas.upenn.edu/publications.htm

Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment, by Martin E.P. Seligman

Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth, by Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener

The How of Happiness, a Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want by Sonja Lyubomirsky.

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