02 Oct What brings us happiness?
I’m not entirely sure about the validity of this study but the findings are, nevertheless, interesting for those of us interested in happiness and positive psychology…
New Index Reveals What Brings Men, Women Happiness
Posted on: Wednesday, 1 October 2008, 14:00 CDT
According to the new “Happiness Index” study conducted in Australia, both sexes agree on one thing – relaxation brings them the most happiness.
Overall, 8,500 Australians aged 18-64 years were polled on which activities made them the happiest.
In both men and women, 63 percent of overall respondents chose relaxation as the activity that made them the happiest.
Over half of men said happiness involved online activities such as checking up on social networking sites and playing video games, compared with only 39 percent of women.
Meanwhile, fifty-five percent of women chose having meals and spending time together as a family, compared to 45 percent of men.
Women are also more likely than men to have been made happy by their pets.
“Australians are made happy on a week-to-week basis, not by possessions and achievements, but by entertaining experiences and by meaningful interactions with others,” said Karen Phillips, managing director of The Leading Edge, the business consultancy that conducted the survey over a week in August.
“This index gives insight into the way we tick, with the results being useful to Australian businesses who want to better communicate with their customers,” she added.
Forty-eight percent of men said being intimate with another person brought them happiness, compared to 40 percent of women. Also, 38 percent of men said drinking with friends brought them joy, compared to only 28 percent of women.
But Phillips said the survey also debunked several gender stereotypes, finding that shopping for new clothes and shoes made only 30 percent of women happy and that more men and women with children cited sex and romance as making them happy than singles.
“It’s important to not make assumptions but to do your research when utilizing happiness drivers to improve your brand’s performance,” she added.