Psychology professor Lara Aknin, PhD, editor of the World Happiness Report, discusses the factors affecting global happiness levels, including the decline in young Americans' happiness. She explores the correlation between generosity and happiness, the impact of financial security on well-being, and the importance of social relationships in shaping happiness levels across different countries.
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Quick takeaways
Young Americans are less happy than peers in many countries, while generosity boosts happiness levels.
COVID-19 effects contribute to decreased happiness among young adults in North America, disrupting global trends.
Deep dives
Overview of the World Happiness Report 2024
The 2024 World Happiness Report revealed a concerning trend for North American youth. Young people in the United States and Canada are experiencing lower levels of happiness than ever before, impacting the overall rankings of these countries globally. Dr. Lara Aknan, a key editor of the report, highlighted the importance of evaluating people's life satisfaction as a key measure in the report. The report's data, drawn from the Gallup World Poll, represents diverse national samples from over 136 countries.
Youth Happiness Trends in North America
The significant drop in happiness among young adults in North America, especially in the United States, was a standout finding in this year's report. Unlike the global trend of happiness decreasing through middle adulthood and then rising, young Americans reported some of the lowest life satisfaction levels. This downward trend disrupted the typical U-shaped happiness curve seen worldwide, highlighting a unique challenge faced by North American youth.
Impact of Pandemic on Happiness Levels
The lingering effects of the pandemic, especially on young individuals, were suggested to influence happiness levels. Dr. Aknan's insights from her work on COVID-19 mental health data revealed that young adults, particularly in North America, faced challenges related to the pandemic. These effects varied globally, with regions like Central and Eastern Europe showing contrasting happiness levels among young adults, possibly influenced by local factors and government responses to the pandemic.
Generosity and Happiness Research Insights
Dr. Aknan's studies on generosity and happiness shed light on the positive impact of giving on well-being. Research findings indicated that even small acts of generosity can enhance happiness levels, regardless of an individual's financial status. From experiments with toddlers to adults, the studies highlighted the universal joy derived from giving to others, emphasizing the intrinsic connection between generosity and personal happiness.
The 2024 World Happiness Report, which ranks the happiness levels of countries around the world, found that young Americans are less happy than their peers in many other countries. Psychology professor Lara Aknin, PhD, an editor of the report, talks about how the report defines happiness, why young people’s happiness levels may have dropped in the U.S, what drives happiness, and why being generous makes people happy – even when they don’t have much to spare.