How far can the self-belief that you make your own happiness carry you, creating conditions for a self-fulfilling prophecy? A new study shows there is a happy correlation.
A new survey of 1,155 respondents found that 89% of people think that their happiness can be controlled—and these people are 32% happier than those who don’t think that happiness can be controlled.
The average happiness rating given by participants who think happiness is controllable is 7.39. In contrast, the average happiness rating of people who think happiness is out of their control is 5.61.
Even taking into account the so-called self-serving bias, which is the common habit of a person taking credit for positive events or outcomes, but blaming outside factors for negative events, the author believes the research is noteworthy.
“I didn’t expect such a big difference in happiness ratings between the people who think happiness can be controlled and those who don’t,” Hugo Huyer, the study’s author, told GNN. “In social science, a lot of correlations are far less clear, as results are often influenced by factors that cannot be excluded in a study.”
“However, the study is consistent with others in the field and hints at the fact that the happiest people have learned that some aspects of our lives are within our control. By focusing on these areas, you are more inclined to feel happy.”
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Less happy people were less likely to feel in control of happiness
Respondents were asked, ‘Is happiness something that you can control?’ and
‘If you look back at the last year of your life, how would you rate your happiness on a scale from 1 to 10?’
They were grouped into three categories based on how high they rated their happiness. People with low happiness ratings (6 or lower) are 5 times more likely to feel like happiness is out of their control compared to people with high (9 or 10) happiness ratings (20.33% versus 4.29%).
Digging into the demographic questions, the study examined ranging from gender to employment status.
There was no difference between genders. Both male and female respondents showed the same results. 89% of people think that happiness is controllable.
A self-described “data junkie” and “happiness tracker” for over 6 years, Huyer and his team of researchers in the Netherland say their study showed that people with a higher educational background are more likely to feel like happiness can be controlled. Interestingly though, it’s the students that are least likely to feel like happiness can be controlled, when compared to other employment statuses of our respondents. The study shows that part-time and full-time employees are most likely to feel like happiness can be controlled.
Based on the analysis, when transitioning from being a college student to being employed, you can expect to feel more in control of happiness (on average, from 75% to 90%).
Control over happiness changes as you age
Age seems to have a significant influence on the average respondent. The amount of control we have over our happiness decreases in our mid-life and increases as we grow older again.
One interesting finding is that age plays a significant role. In well-researched studies on happiness vs age, researchers have found a “U-curve” in our happiness, showing that happiness decreases from age 18 and reaches peak unhappiness at approximately age 47. From there, the happiness levels gradually increase again. This has been confirmed around the world.
Similar to this “U-curve” in happiness, our feelings of control over happiness tend to reach a negative peak during our midlife, according to this study. Since actual happiness and control over happiness is correlated, it is logical that our mid-lives align with a feeling of lower control over happiness.
The good news is that feelings of control over happiness increase at an older age again, so in mid-life we can expect a trend toward happiness in the future.
