5 Other Facts of Life and Happiness

Introduction

Other facts of life and happiness share another important relationship. Happiness, often referred to as subjective well-being (SWB), evolves across the lifespan and is influenced by various genetic, environmental, social, and psychological factors. Positive psychology plays a key role in understanding these changes, with concepts like emotional regulation, gratitude, and social connections being central to sustaining well-being at different life stages.

Subjective Well-Being (SWB) is a concept central to positive psychology, SWB consists of-

• Affective well-being- The balance of positive and negative emotions.
• Cognitive well-being- Life satisfaction, an evaluation of one’s life circumstances (Diener, 1984).

Happiness can also be defined as a positive emotional state that arises when individuals feel satisfied with their life and experience frequent positive emotions, such as joy or contentment, and relatively few negative emotions. It reflects both emotional well-being and a cognitive evaluation of life satisfaction (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005).

 

Read More- What is Happiness?

 

Theories of Happiness

1. Hedonic Adaptation Theory or Set-Point Theory- it suggests that individuals have a relatively stable baseline or “set-point” of happiness, influenced largely by genetics. Life events—both positive (e.g., marriage, promotions) and negative (e.g., loss, illness)—cause temporary fluctuations in happiness, but over time, people tend to return to their baseline level of happiness. This theory emphasizes the idea that while external circumstances can temporarily change happiness, individuals naturally adapt and return to their set-point over time (Brickman & Campbell, 1971).
2. Authentic Happiness Theory- it was developed by Seligman and posits that true happiness arises from living a life that fulfills three core components. The first component is Pleasure, which refers to the pursuit of enjoyable experiences and positive emotions, essential for a fulfilling life, even if they are often transient. The second component is Engagement, achieved through deep involvement in activities that challenge an individual’s skills and abilities, closely related to the concept of “flow,” where one becomes fully immersed in a task, leading to a profound sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. The third component is Meaning, which involves finding purpose and belonging, connecting to something larger than oneself, such as family, community, or spirituality. According to Seligman, cultivating these elements fosters a more fulfilling and joyful life.
3. Flow Theory- it was developed by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, suggests that true happiness is attained through a state of “flow,” which occurs when individuals become fully immersed in activities that challenge their skills while providing clear goals and immediate feedback. This state is characterized by intense concentration, a sense of control, and intrinsic enjoyment, leading to deep satisfaction. Key conditions for achieving flow include a balance between challenge and skill, clear goals, immediate feedback, and high concentration. Csikszentmihalyi posits that regularly experiencing flow can enhance happiness and life satisfaction by fostering a sense of accomplishment and mastery, emphasizing the importance of engaging in activities that induce this optimal experience.

 

Read More- Measure My Happiness Levels (Oxford Happiness Questionnaire)

 

Other Facts of Life and Happiness

There exists a relationship between happiness and many other variables. These include facts of life like physical and mental health, religion, stigma or discrimination, employment, and intelligence.

Physical and Mental Health

There is a two-way connection between subjective well-being (SWB) or happiness and health. Happiness promotes better health, and good health increases happiness (Diener & Seligman, 2004). Happiness is linked to longer life, lower disease susceptibility, and faster recovery from illnesses (e.g., cardiovascular disease) (Diener & Seligman, 2004). Low SWB or depression increases vulnerability to health problems, emotional distress, and illness (Diener et al., 1999).

Physical Health

• The correlation between self-reported health and happiness is stronger than objective measures of health. Self-reported health and SWB correlation is r = 0.32, but objective measures drop to r = 0.16, showing the subjective nature of health perceptions (Okun et al., 1984).
• Prolonged and severe health conditions are linked with long-term declines in life satisfaction and increased depression (Diener & Seligman, 2004).

Mental Health

• Mental disorders almost always correlate with lower SWB (Diener & Seligman, 2004). Depression rates have risen in adolescents, with earlier onset than in past generations (Diener & Seligman, 2004).
• Mental health problems negatively impact the well-being of family members and caregivers (Diener & Seligman, 2004).
• Happy individuals generally report fewer symptoms of mental illness, supporting the inverse relationship between happiness and emotional disorders (Keyes, 2003).

 

Work and Unemployment

• Losing a job significantly reduces well-being, leading to depression, lowered self-esteem, and increased physical illness (Argyle, 2001). Job loss causes unhappiness rather than the reverse (Lucas et al., 2004).
• Work satisfaction strongly correlates with life satisfaction (Argyle, 2001). Happy people find satisfaction in their work, and satisfying jobs contribute to happiness (Diener & Seligman, 2004).
• There exists a spillover effect as a good day at work positively affects home life. Whereas work stress can contribute to unhappiness and conflict at home (Diener & Seligman, 2004).

 

Intelligence and Education

• There is no significant correlation between intelligence (measured by IQ) and happiness when other variables are considered (Diener et al., 1999).
• Higher education shows a small positive relationship with happiness, largely through its effects on job satisfaction and personal control (Argyle, 2001). Education opens opportunities for better jobs and social support (Argyle, 2001).

 

Religion

• Small positive correlations exist between religious involvement and happiness, with stronger connections between religion and physical health (George et al., 2002). Religion may promote positive emotions, optimism, and purpose, while also providing social support and encouraging healthy behaviors (Hill & Pargament, 2003).

 

Read More- Mental Health

 

Race, Ethnicity, and Stigma

• Despite facing discrimination, many minority groups maintain positive levels of SWB. However, economic inequality has a larger effect than race on SWB (Diener, 1984).
• African Americans, despite discrimination, often report higher self-esteem than whites (Twenge & Crocker, 2002).

This disparity can be attributed to-

1. Attributing Negative Experiences to Discrimination- Stigmatized individuals often view negative outcomes as a result of external societal biases, not personal shortcomings.
2. Building Group Pride- Strong community and cultural identity foster resilience and self-worth among marginalized groups.
3. Downward Social Comparisons- Individuals may enhance self-esteem by focusing on others in similar or worse situations, providing a sense of relative well-being.

 

Conclusion

The relationship between happiness and various life factors is intricate and multidirectional. Health significantly influences well-being, where good physical and mental health correlate with higher happiness levels. Work plays a crucial role, as job satisfaction boosts happiness, while unemployment can lead to decreased well-being. Education enhances life satisfaction by opening opportunities for fulfilling work. Religion often provides community support and purpose, contributing positively to happiness. Stigma affects marginalized groups; however, these individuals often exhibit resilience, maintaining high self-esteem and well-being despite facing discrimination. Understanding these complex interactions is essential for promoting overall happiness and well-being across diverse populations.

 

Reference

Argyle, M. (2001). The psychology of happiness. Routledge.

Brickman, P., & Campbell, D. T. (1971). Hedonic relativism and planning the good society. In M. H. Appley (Ed.), Adaptation-level theory: A symposium (pp. 287-302). Academic Press.

Baumgardner, S. R., & Crothers, M. K. (2009). Positive Psychology: Pearson Education.

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper & Row.

Carr, A. (2011). Positive psychology: The science of happiness and human strengths (2nd ed.).

Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95(3), 542-575. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.95.3.542

Diener, E., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Beyond money: Toward an economy of well-being. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 5(1), 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2004.00518.x

George, L. K., Ellison, C. G., & Larson, D. B. (2002). Explaining the relationships between religious involvement and health. Psychological Inquiry, 13(3), 190-200. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1303_02

Hill, P. C., & Pargament, K. I. (2003). Advances in the conceptualization and measurement of religion and spirituality: Implications for physical and mental health research. American Psychologist, 58(1), 64-74. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.58.1.64

Keyes, C. L. M. (2003). Complete mental health: An emergent concept. In J. E. P. Nolen-Hoeksema (Ed.), Handbook of psychology (pp. 207-227). Wiley.

Lucas, R. E., Clark, A. E., Georgellis, Y., & Diener, E. (2004). Unemployment alters the set-point for life satisfaction. Psychological Science, 15(1), 8-13. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2004.01501002.x

Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., & Schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 111-131. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.9.2.111

Okun, M. A., Stock, W. A., Haring, M. J., & Witter, R. A. (1984). Health and subjective well-being: a meta-analysis. International journal of aging & human development, 19(2), 111–132. https://doi.org/10.2190/QGJN-0N81-5957-HAQD

Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. Free Press.

Twenge, J. M., & Crocker, J. (2002). Race and self-esteem: Meta-analyses comparing Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and American Indians and comment on Gray-Little and Hafdahl (2000). Psychological Bulletin, 128(3), 371–408. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.128.3.371