Happiness Research

#happiness

"Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole goal and end of human existence."

Aristotle spoke these words more than 2,000 years ago, and they still ring true today. Happiness is a broad term that describes the experience of positive emotions such as joy, contentment, and satisfaction.

Recent research shows that being happier doesn't just make you feel better—it even has a whole host of potential health benefits.

How can happiness make you healthier?

Being happy promotes a number of lifestyle habits that are important for overall health. Happy people tend to eat healthier diets, with a higher intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

A study of more than 7,000 adults found that people with positive well-being were 47% more likely to consume fresh fruits and vegetables than their less positive counterparts.

Diets rich in fruits and vegetables have consistently been linked to a number of health benefits, including a lower risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.

In the same study of 7,000 adults, researchers found that people with positive well-being were 33% more likely to be physically active, with 10 or more hours of physical activity per week.

Regular physical activity helps build strong bones, increase energy levels, reduce body fat, and lower blood pressure.

Healthy sleep

In addition, increased satisfaction can also improve sleep habits, which is important for concentration, productivity, physical performance, and maintaining a healthy weight.

A study of over 700 adults found that sleep problems, including difficulty falling asleep, were 47% higher among those who reported low levels of positive well-being.

However, a 2016 review of 44 studies concluded that while there appears to be an association between positive well-being and sleep outcomes, further research from well-designed studies is needed to confirm these findings.

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Does happiness strengthen the immune system?

A healthy immune system is important for overall health. Research has shown that living a happier life can help keep your immune system strong. This can help reduce your risk of colds and infections.

A study of over 300 healthy people examined the risk of catching a cold after receiving a common cold virus via nasal drops. The unhappiest individuals were almost three times more likely to catch a cold than their happier peers.

In another study, researchers administered a vaccine against hepatitis B, a virus that attacks the liver, to 81 university students. More fortunate students were almost twice as likely to develop a high antibody response, a sign of a strong immune system.
The effects of happiness on the immune system are not fully understood.

It may be due to the effects of happiness on the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates the immune system, hormones, digestion, and stress levels.

In addition, happy people are more likely to engage in health-promoting behaviors that play a role in maintaining a strong immune system. These include healthy eating habits and regular physical activity.

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Happiness and stress

Being happy can help reduce stress levels!

Typically, excessive stress causes an increase in cortisol levels, a hormone that contributes to many of the harmful effects of stress, including sleep disturbances, weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

A number of studies show that cortisol levels tend to be lower when people are happier.

In a study with over 200 adult participants, the laboratory found that cortisol levels were 32% lower in the happiest people than in the unhappy participants.

These effects appeared to persist over time. When the researchers followed up on the same group of adults three years later, there was a 20% difference between the cortisol levels of the happiest and unhappiest individuals.

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Can happiness protect against heart disease?

Happiness can protect the heart by lowering blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease!

A study of over 6,500 people over 65 found that positive well-being was associated with a 9% lower risk of high blood pressure.

Happiness can also reduce the risk of heart disease, the world's leading cause of death.

A number of studies have shown that happiness reduces the risk of heart disease by 13-26%.

A long-term study of 1,500 adults also found that happiness helps protect against heart disease. The happier adults had a 22% lower risk over the 10-year study period, even after adjusting for risk factors such as age, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.

It appears that happiness can contribute to protection even if you already have heart disease. A systematic review of 30 studies found that greater positive well-being reduced the risk of death by 11% in adults with documented heart disease.

It is important to note that some of these effects may be due to an increase in heart-healthy behaviors such as physical activity, avoiding smoking, and healthy eating habits.

However, a recent study of nearly 1,500 people over a 12-year period found no association between positive well-being and the risk of heart disease.

Further high-quality, well-designed research is needed in this area.

Summary:
Being happier may help lower blood pressure, which in turn may reduce the risk of heart disease. However, more research is needed.

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Can happiness extend life expectancy?

Being happy can help you live longer!

A long-term study published in 2015 examined the influence of happiness on the survival rates of 32,000 people.

The risk of death over the 30-year study period was 14% higher for unhappy people than for happier people.

A large review of 70 studies examined the relationship between positive well-being and longevity in both healthy people and people with a pre-existing health problem, such as heart or kidney disease.

It has been found that greater positive well-being has a beneficial effect on aging, reducing the risk of death by 18% in healthy people and by 2% in people with a pre-existing condition.

How happiness can lead to longer life expectancy is not well understood.

It can be partly explained by an increase in positive behaviors that prolong survival, such as not smoking, physical activity, taking medication, and good sleep habits.

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Can happiness reduce pain?

Arthritis is a common condition characterized by inflammation and degeneration of the joints. It causes painful and stiff joints and generally worsens with age.

A number of studies have shown that greater positive well-being can reduce the pain and stiffness associated with the condition.

Being happy can also improve physical function in people with arthritis.

A study of over 1,000 people with painful knee arthritis found that happier people walked 711 additional steps daily—8.5% more than their less happy counterparts.

Happiness can also help reduce pain in other conditions. A study of nearly 1,000 people recovering from a stroke found that the happiest people experienced 13% less pain after three months of hospitalization.

Researchers have suggested that happy people may have lower pain ratings because their positive emotions help broaden their perspective and encourage new thoughts and ideas.

They believe this can help people develop effective coping strategies that reduce their perception of pain.

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Ways to increase happiness

Being happy doesn't just make you feel better—it's also incredibly beneficial for your health. Here are 7 scientifically proven ways to become happier.

Express gratitude: You can increase your happiness by focusing on the things you are grateful for. One way to practice gratitude is to write down three things you are grateful for at the end of each day.
Get active: Aerobic exercise, also called cardio, is the most effective form of exercise for increasing happiness. Taking a walk or playing tennis is not only good for your physical health but also helps boost your mood.
Get a good night's sleep: Lack of sleep can negatively impact your happiness. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, check out these tips for better sleep.
Spend plenty of time outdoors: Take a walk in the park or get your hands dirty in the garden. Even five minutes of outdoor exercise is enough to significantly improve your mood.
Meditate: Regular meditation can increase happiness and also provide a number of other benefits, including reducing stress and improving sleep.
Healthy eating: Studies show that the more fruit and vegetables you eat, the happier you become. Furthermore, eating more fruit and vegetables also improves your long-term health.
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