As a follow up to my Debbie Downer piece. We actually are pretty happy people. Which based onsomewhat conflicting data like this we seem to be pretty confused and may I say tugged at.
We're number 16 ... in world happiness. Feel the joy. The United States ranks ahead of more than 80 countries, but below 15 others in happiness levels, according to new World Values Survey data released in the July issue of the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science.
The latest surveys, taken in the United States and in several developing countries, showed increased happiness from 1981 to 2007 in 45 of 52 countries for which substantial time series data was available.source
Americans grow happier as they grow older.
According to a University of Chicago study that is one of the most thorough examinations of happiness ever done in America.The study also found that baby boomers are not as content as other generations, African Americans are less happy than whites, men are less happy than women, happiness can rise and fall between eras, and that, with age the differences narrow.source
This is definitely an interesting tidbit. I would have thought we would be within the top 5! There are some things here that can be depressing, but overall this country is truly blessed. We should all relize how lucky we are during this 4th of July.
Posted by: Alan Daniels | July 02, 2008 at 10:04 AM