It would be more accurate to say that it’s not the things themselves that make me happy, but rather the meaning I give them. Sometimes, all you need is a warm cup of coffee to be happy! With the exception of biological factors like genes that we can’t control, there’s one thing that all of these things have in common: they will only make us happy if they are meaningful to us.įor instance, a good cup of coffee in the morning or a nice hot shower after a long day make me happy, but does my happiness come from coffee and hot showers? Not really. It’s clear that happiness doesn’t just come from genes, relationships or money, but rather a combination of all three and many other factors. This effect is mediated by a number of factors, including relationships (it’s easier for attractive people to form them) as well as cultural context (what is considered attractive in one culture may not be attractive in another). Good physical health is a strong predictor of happiness, but in turn, happiness can influence physical health.Higher levels of hormones like oxytocin, which is related to social bonding, make us happier, while higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol diminish our happiness. Hormonal balance is important for happiness.While happiness isn’t localized in the brain – meaning there is no specific brain area related to happiness – areas and neurotransmitters related to mood regulation play an important role in our overall happiness levels.It is believed that most of this effect comes from genes that code mood and emotional regulation. Research shows that genetic factors count for 35-50% of our happiness.A 2014 review examined previous research and found that there are five major ways in which biology can affect our happiness. While illnesses can make people unhappy, exercise has been proven to make us happier.īut there are other biological factors at play. People with chronic disorders like schizophrenia are generally unhappier than healthy people, although this doesn’t mean they don’t experience happiness at all. Biology and happinessīoth physical and mental health play an important part in our happiness. In other words, it doesn’t matter how much you earn, if you don’t think it’s enough, it won’t make you happy. There is evidence that people who receive unexpected windfalls like a lottery win or an inheritance are happier in the year after receiving the money, but this effect doesn’t last.Ī study from 2006 showed that while income and wealth do contribute towards life satisfaction, it’s not the size of income, but rather the perceived financial situation and control over life that seem to make us happier. At the same time, it would be equally naive to believe that all the money in the world will bring us eternal happiness. It would be naive to think that finances don’t play any role in happiness, as not having to worry about making ends meet gives us the chance to pursue things that will make us happy. The easy answer is no, it can’t, but as the joke goes, it’s more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes than on a bicycle. This support the many existing studies in implying that relationships are where most of our happiness is formed. With this in mind, it comes at no surprise that the word “Family” comes next to “Love”. In addition, emotional security and companionship emerged as the strongest features of romantic relationship quality that predicted happiness.įinally, a study performed by Tracking Happiness (yes, that’s us!) showed that “Love” is the word that’s most associated with the word “Happiness”. For example, a 2020 study found that elders who had been married to the same person for most of their lives were only slightly happier than people who had been single or in various relationships, with the latter groups having no significant difference in subjective well-being.Īnother study from 2007 reports that in emerging adults, romantic relationship quality accounted for only 3% of the variance in happiness. While we tend to take friendships for granted, romantic relationships are something many people consciously pursue. Not all friendships are created equal when it comes to happiness: quality trumps quantity, meaning that it’s better to have a few close relationships than many less close ones. The tentative conclusion we can draw from this is that about half of our happiness might come from friendships. In fact, a 2007 study found that friendship variables accounted for 58% of the variance in happiness. Being surrounded by supportive loved ones will boost our happiness, while troubled or toxic relationships will decrease it. It should come as no surprise that relationships have a major effect on our happiness. Are relationships the source of happiness?Īre relationships the source of happiness?.
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