Happiness across Cultures

A Chinese proverb warns, “We are never happy for a thousand days, a flower never blooms for a hundred” (Myers, 2002, p. 47). Although most of us understand that our positive emotions may be more passing than permanent, we tend to presume that greater joy lies on the other side of various cultural fences. If only we made more money, lived in a better place, or even were a different age or gender, then we truly would be happy. But the science of human happiness has torn down these fences, suggesting instead that happiness is interpersonally based.

Consider class, the most common cultural fence believed to divide the happy from the unhappy. Studies suggest that wealth actually has little effect on happiness. Across countries and cultures, happiness is unaffected by the gain of additional money once people have basic human rights, safe and secure shelter, sufficient food and water, meaningful activity with which to occupy their time, and worthwhile relationships.

What about age? The largest cross-cultural study of happiness and age ever conducted, which examined 170,000 people in 16 countries, found no difference in reported happiness and life satisfaction based on age (Myers, 2002). And gender? Differences in gender account for less than 1 percent in reported life happiness(Michalos, 1991; Wood, Rhodes, & Whelan, 1989). Men and women around the globe all report roughly similar levels of happiness. Even population density drops as a predictor of joy: people in rural areas, towns, suburbs, and big cities report similar levels of happiness (Crider, Willits, & Kanagy, 1991).

When asked, “What is necessary for your happiness?” people overwhelmingly cite satisfying close relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners at the top of their lists (Berscheid & Peplau, 2002). Faith also matters. Studies over the past 20 years in both Europe and the United States repeatedly have documented that people who are religious are more likely to report being happy and satisfied with life than those who are nonreligious (Myers, 2002). Finally, living a healthy life breeds joy. The positive effect of exercise on mood extends to broader life satisfaction: people who routinely exercise report substantially higher levels of happiness and well-being than those who don’t (Myers, 2002).

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