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Report: Happiness – Factors That Increase Happiness and Do Not Increase

Happiness

The Psychology of Everyday Life

PSYC 200
Instructor: Maria Tepina
15 Dec 2024

Sajanpreet Singh (2023123367)

Simran Kaur (2024012572)
Abhishek Bana (2023095485)
Harmandeep Kaur (2023122767)
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Report on Happiness: Factors That Increase and Do Not Increase Happiness

Introduction

Background and Context

Happiness has been the object of study of philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, and

economists throughout history. It is more than a personal desire since it underpins welfare in

society, health, and productivity. Yet, despite this fact, understanding what fuels happiness, now

often termed subjective well-being, is complex and fraught with debates across disciplines. -

Diener et al. (1999).

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Traditional proxies for societal progress, such as Gross Domestic Product, have long been

in use. However, growing critiques highlight their lack of nuanced quality of life indicators, such

as happiness and life satisfaction (Layard, 2005). Indeed, recent research increasingly emphasizes

that happiness is multi-dimensional, shaped not only by psychological, social, and economic

factors but also cultural and environmental contexts (Ryan & Deci, 2001).

The existing body of literature presents diverse perspectives. Psychological frameworks

typically define subjective well-being in terms of emotional responses, satisfaction across various

life domains, and overall life contentment (Diener, 1984). Economists often examine the

relationship between income and happiness, frequently noting diminishing returns at higher

income levels (Easterlin, 1974). Sociological perspectives prioritize social relationships and

community engagement, citing their critical role in well-being (Helliwell et al., 2020). However,

with such progress, what actually contributes most is not decided as yet (Diener et al., 2018).

Problem and Objectives

This paper endeavors to answer the following question: What things increase happiness a

lot, and which contribute very little? The need for an answer cannot be overemphasized within a

world where happiness has become viewed as the ultimate good for individuals and societies.
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The main objectives of the study are, therefore, as under:

1. To identify and analyze those factors that highly contribute to happiness.

2. To critically assess factors that are generally believed to enhance happiness but actually

have very minimal or negligible effects.

3. The implications of these findings for improvements in individual and collective well-

being.

This research study is guided by the following hypotheses:

- H1: Social relationships and community engagement are considered a critical determinant

of happiness.

- H2: Income is positively related to happiness only up to a threshold beyond which it does

not matter much.

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- H3: Material possessions contribute little to general happiness.

Methodology

Participants

A sample of a representative number of 500 adults aged 18 years and above was included

for this study. Stratified random sampling was conducted for ensuring key demographic

representation on basis of age, sex, social class, and geographical dispersion. In addition,

representative samplings in both urban and rural settings have been taken to account for regional

variation of determinants of happiness. Before engaging all the subjects for the exercise, informed

consent has been sought from them.

Materials and Instruments

Measured by using two validated instruments:

1. Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS): It is a scale used in measuring general life

satisfaction on a 7-point Likert format (Diener et al., 1985).

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2. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS): The emotional dimensions of

happiness in the form of frequencies of positive and negative emotions during a specified time

period are assessed using this instrument (Watson et al., 1988).

Procedure

They took an online survey which they could complete in approximately 20 minutes. This

was based on demographic data and questions which measured the subject's income, social

relationships, material possessions, and psychological well-being. Furthermore, the wording had

been designed in such a way as to assure that no questionnaire had any biased wording. Data has

been kept confidential with considerations for ethical issues followed very stringently.

Data Analysis

Quantitative data analysis was done using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics described the

sample, and some of the inferential statistics-regression analysis and ANOVA-were used to test

the hypotheses. The significance threshold of *p* < 0.05 was adopted. Regression models probed

the relationships between the variables and happiness while ANOVA was used in comparing group

means.
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Results

Factors Contributing to Happiness

Social Relationships

The analysis gave way to a strong positive relation that existed between social relationships

and happiness: β = 0.45, *p* < 0.001. It showed that respondents who have continuously enjoyed

the support of good social networks reported higher levels of life satisfaction and positive

emotions. These findings emerge from a large body of work that places social interaction as core

in the facilitation of well-being (Diener et al., 2018).

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Community Engagement

Community involvement, in this sample volunteering, attending local events, and religious

services was a very strong predictor of happiness, β = 0.32, *p* < 0.01. Consistent with a theory

positing that attachment and a sense of purpose are psychologically rewarding Putnam 2000, those

individuals who were the most deeply embedded in their communities revealed higher levels of

life satisfaction and positive affect.

Income

Income and happiness were positively related but showed diminishing returns. While

income was a significant contributor to happiness with β = 0.28, *p* < 0.05, the contribution

reached a threshold with annual income at roughly $75,000. As alluded to previously, this confirms

the Easterlin paradox where for higher income, diminishing extra benefits arise from it in terms of

additional happiness. Easterlin (1974).

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Factors Contributing Least to Happiness

Material Possessions

Material possessions did not relate significantly to happiness, β = 0.05, *p* = 0.45.

Participants that placed a high value on accumulating material wealth reported the same amount

of life satisfaction as others. This goes against consumerism-based ideas about happiness and adds

merit to the growing literature supporting the belief of experiences over materials when

considering a purchase (Van Boven & Gilovich, 2003).

Working hours

There was no significant positive relation of long working hours with happiness, β = -0.12,

*p* = 0.15. It was identified that longer hours at work have similar life satisfaction to people who

spend a short time in working hours. These results symbolize that balance between working and

personal life will be an important constituent that can help in achieving the healthiness of life

Kahneman et al., 2004).

Discussion
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Result interpretation

This present study once again evidence that happiness is very strongly connected with

social relationships and engagement within one's community. Such findings just reaffirm that

human well-being is innately social and tied to meaningful interactions and communal

connections. Helliwell et al. (2020).

The curvilinear relationship between income and happiness violates some of the

fundamental axioms of economics. Though economic security is an important ingredient of well-

being, its marginal utility is less beyond the threshold, thereby making the intrinsic factors

relatively more important than the extrinsic ones. The negligible effects of material possessions

also support the importance of relationships and experiences in achieving happiness.

Implications
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Theoretical Implications

These findings run contrary to those economic models that rely on accumulation for

satisfaction. From this point of view, the conduction of happiness research needs guidance through

a paradigm shift toward intrinsic values, social determinants, and psychological well-being.

These can help policy and practitioners design selective interventions. Interventions which

could be built on include those around connectedness, community participation, and work-life

balance for collective well-being gains. Public campaigns can also raise a cultural shift in values

toward intrinsic and relational pursuits away from materialism.

Limitations

As most of the measures in the present study were self-reporting, potential biases include

social desirability effects. Besides, because of the cross-sectional design, causal inferences are
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limited. Longitudinal research is recommended in understanding the dynamic relationships

between happiness and its determinants.

Suggestions for Future Research

Future research should, therefore, be done on cultural and contextual differences in the

determinants of happiness, especially the roles of social relationships, income, and material

possessions. Given the rising importance of digital social networks in life today, research has to

be done into how those affect subjective well-being.

Conclusion

Social relationships and community involvement are strong predictors of happiness.

Income increases happiness only up to a point beyond which further income is not

associated with greater happiness. Material goods and long work hours have very little to do with

happiness. These results point out the key role of intrinsic values and social relationships as
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opposed to material wealth. These insights have important implications for furthering both

theoretical and applied work in the pursuit of increased human and social welfare.

References

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