Latest news with #WorldHappinessReport
CNBC
14-07-2025
- General
- CNBC
25% of young Americans aged 18 to 24 eat every meal alone—'a virtual doubling of what it was two decades ago,' expert says
Americans are not eating enough meals together. According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, the optimal number of weekly lunches and dinners eaten with others is 13. And in the United States, people only share 7.9 of those meals together every week. The picture is even more dire for young Americans. Researchers looked at data from the American Time Use Survey, "which has a measure for the extent to which people shared meals the previous day," says Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, professor of economics and behavioral science at the University of Oxford and editor of the report. They found that in 2023, 25% of 18-to 24-year-olds ate all three meals alone the previous day. "That's a virtual doubling of what it was two decades ago," De Neve says, and it's to the detriment of their mental health. The number of meals shared with others is "as predictive of their life satisfaction, essentially their overall well-being" as their employment status or relative income, he adds. Here's why he thinks young people aren't breaking bread with others, and how they — and their institutions — can ensure they do so more often. "There's not a single smoking gun," says De Neve about the growth of this trend. There are many factors at play, and they've been building for decades. By the year 2000, when social scientist and Harvard University professor Robert Putnam published his book "Bowling Alone," the U.S. was already seeing an increase in disconnect from family, friends and neighbors. Putnam pointed to changes in work, family structure, suburban life, television and computers as contributors to the decline. When it comes to 18-to-24-year-olds, the introduction of smartphones and social media in the last two decades has only exacerbated the problem, De Neve says. An overwhelming majority, 98% of 18-to-29-year-olds have a Smartphone, according to a 2024 survey by the Pew Research Center. Smartphones are "distracting us from other human beings in the room," he says, "and are also sort of an excuse to not have to talk to people." Former U.S. surgeon general Vivek Murthy came to speak at Oxford in 2024. Murthy had just come back from a tour of American college campuses and shared a key observation. "The default now is that you do not speak to people when you go into a dining hall and you sit by yourself," De Neve says Murthy told them. To mitigate the growing lack of shared meals among young people, De Neve offers up some possible solutions. First, on an individual level, De Neve recommends taking the advice of Harvard Business School professor Arthur Brooks who he says suggests a box in both your bedroom and your kitchen where you put your phone. "That will force you to be present, and actually having conversations with people," De Neve says. On an institutional level, at universities, for example, administrators could consider having "one table in the dining hall which has a no-phone policy," he says, which signals to students that "if you're sitting here, you have to strike up a conversation." Finally, on a societal level, "we need to work with these social media tech companies," he says. While companies like Meta might have started with the intent to strengthen our personal connections, they've done the opposite. Ultimately, De Neves says, it's time to focus on putting "the 'social' back into social media."
Vancouver Sun
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Conversations That Matter: Why happiness matters
'Don't Worry, Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin soared to No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 1988. It was the first a cappella song to hit No. 1. Why? 'Because it struck a chord with people; it lifted their spirits and got them bopping along,' says John F. Helliwell, the author of the World Happiness Report. 'Happiness is an enduring state of mind that consists of the capacity to experience pleasure on a daily life basis, coupled with the ability to enrich one's life and the lives of others,' Helliwell says. Generosity is one of the six elements of a happy life, Helliwell says. 'The others include a sense of purpose, a positive mind set, physical and financial well-being, along with positive relationships.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The good news is, should you take the Oxford happiness questionnaire and not be happy with the outcome, it is within your power to make changes that can improve your happiness. 'It starts with wanting to make a change and that starts the process of rewiring your brain. A daily commitment to looking for the upside has huge upsides in mind set and health.' Helliwell joined a Conversation That Matters about why happiness matters in the moment and over the course of your life. See the video at Learn More about our guests career at Join us Sept. 16 for Conversations Live , investing in B.C. in partnership with First Nations. For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to – a member of the Postmedia Network.
The Herald Scotland
03-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
U.S. slides to lowest spot in 2025 World Happiness Report
Based on a population's average evaluation of their quality of life from 2022 to 2024, this year's study data ranks 147 nations according to their happiness levels. The rankings are primarily based on data from the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford and Gallup World Poll, which asks respondents to rate their present level of happiness. Which countries are happy enough to make into the Top 20? As the United States slumped to 24th, Mexico and Costa Rico hopped into the top 10 for the first time since the report's introduction in 2012. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. U.S. drops in World Happiness Report According to the study, "the rise in political polarization and votes against 'the system'" was a factor that caused the United States and other European nations to fall in the rankings. "We show that the countrywide evolution of happiness and trust is highly associated with the rise in the likelihood of voting for anti-system parties in Western Europe and the United States," according to the authors' report. Individual life evaluations are especially poor in nations such as Afghanistan, which ranks last in overall happiness. Afghanistan's happiness score in the 2025 report was 1.36 out of 10. Afghanistan has been at the bottom of the World Happiness Report for six consecutive years. How the U.S. compare on the happiness scale The report also found that as the number of single-person households have grown in the past two decades, the number of people eating alone has increased 53%, which can lead to more loneliness. According to the survey, eating with others is strongly associated with well-being. What increases happiness in countries? Several factors are linked to overall well-being, from meal-sharing to income and employment status, according to the report. The report says households of four to five people typically enjoy the highest happiness levels in Mexico and Europe, though many people in Europe live on their own. Researchers also suggest social connections are vital for young adults to avoid the toxic effects of stress. The report suggests that countries where acts of generosity and kindness are frequent often lead to fewer despair-related deaths such as suicides or drug overdoses. CONTRIBUTING Anthony Robeldo
USA Today
02-07-2025
- General
- USA Today
U.S. drops in global happiness rankings, and political polarization is partly to blame
The United States isn't feeling too happy lately. Since 2012, the mood in the United States has been on the decline, sliding from 11th to 24th in the global rankings, according to Gallup's 2025 World Happiness Report. Finland holds the top spot for the eighth consecutive year. Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and the Netherlands round out the top five happiest countries. Based on a population's average evaluation of their quality of life from 2022 to 2024, this year's study data ranks 147 nations according to their happiness levels. The rankings are primarily based on data from the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford and Gallup World Poll, which asks respondents to rate their present level of happiness. Which countries are happy enough to make into the Top 20? As the United States slumped to 24th, Mexico and Costa Rico hopped into the top 10 for the first time since the report's introduction in 2012. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. U.S. drops in World Happiness Report According to the study, "the rise in political polarization and votes against 'the system'" was a factor that caused the United States and other European nations to fall in the rankings. "We show that the countrywide evolution of happiness and trust is highly associated with the rise in the likelihood of voting for anti-system parties in Western Europe and the United States," according to the authors' report. Individual life evaluations are especially poor in nations such as Afghanistan, which ranks last in overall happiness. Afghanistan's happiness score in the 2025 report was 1.36 out of 10. Afghanistan has been at the bottom of the World Happiness Report for six consecutive years. How the U.S. compare on the happiness scale The report also found that as the number of single-person households have grown in the past two decades, the number of people eating alone has increased 53%, which can lead to more loneliness. According to the survey, eating with others is strongly associated with well-being. What increases happiness in countries? Several factors are linked to overall well-being, from meal-sharing to income and employment status, according to the report. The report says households of four to five people typically enjoy the highest happiness levels in Mexico and Europe, though many people in Europe live on their own. Researchers also suggest social connections are vital for young adults to avoid the toxic effects of stress. The report suggests that countries where acts of generosity and kindness are frequent often lead to fewer despair-related deaths such as suicides or drug overdoses. CONTRIBUTING Anthony Robeldo
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Countries Where You Can 'Buy Happiness' According To New Data
Luxembourg at sunset getty Money can't buy happiness, as the saying goes, but in a lot of cases, it objectively makes for an easier and less stressful life. In fact, new data has shown a clear correlation between the happiest countries in the world and the financial stability of its inhabitants. The 2025 World Happiness Report showed that increased national happiness directly generates between 1% to 3% economic growth, showing a clear correlation between wealth and overall well-being. A recent study from an online gaming company analyzed data from over 45 countries around the world with the highest GDP in order to understand the countries where money really can buy happines. The data included a comparison between GDP per capita to happiness rating, the quality of life, and the economic freedom in each country. Here are the countries where, according to the data, money can 'buy happiness.' The top country in the world where money can allegedly buy happiness is Luxembourg. The country earned a composite score of 98 thanks to its strong financial stability and overall satisfaction of its residents. It ranked 9th in happiness in the world but has the highest GDP per capita on the list, at $147K. Switzerland Thun cityspace with Alps mountain and lake in Switzerland getty Switzerland earned second place with a composite score of 81.8. The country ranked as the 13th happiest country in the world and also has a GDP of $100K per person with more economic freedom than Luxembourg. Denmark The third country on the list is Denmark, with a total score of 78.4. The country ranks high for quality of life and overall happiness (it's the second-happiest country in the world) and boasts a GDP of $69K per capita. Norway Beautiful nature lanscape of Lofoten in Norway, Europe getty Norway followed very closely behind Denmark with a composite score of 77.9. The country has a GDP of $87.6K per capita and ranks as the 7th happiest country in the world. The Netherlands The Netherlands was rated the 5th happiest country in the world and is coincidentally the 5th country where money can buy happiness, with a composite score of 78.3. It has a total GDP of over a trillion dollars, which comes out to about $63K per capita. Finland Helsinki cityscape with Helsinki cathedral and Market square, Finland getty Finland is the happiest country in the world and while it has the smallest GDP per capita (at $52.4K) it still boasts a very high quality of life and a lot of economic freedom. Australia The first non-European country on the list, Australia ranks 7th with a composite score of 70.86. The country is just outside of the top ten in terms of the world's happiest countries, but still boasts a GDP per capita of $64.8K. United States Image of the Manhattan skyline at sunset from an elevated angle. getty Interestingly, the United States earned 8th place with a composite score of 69.9. The country had the highest GDP out of every country analyzed—at 26.8 trillion dollars—however, it ranked 24th on the list of the happiest countries in the world. Sweden Back to Europe, Sweden ranked 9th on the list with a composite score of 69.59. The country also ranked as the 4th happiest country in the world. New Zealand Auckland, New Zealand, Panorama view, Beautiful landcape of the building in Auckland city before sunset. View from Cyril Bassett VC Lookout. getty New Zealand ranked in 10th place with a composite score of 69.4. The country ranked in 12th place—just after Australia—in the World Happiness Report—and boasts a GDP of $61K per capita, which is more than both Sweden and Finland.
