Are you Happy? Your chance is 50-50 in U.S.

William Atkins
Wednesday, 30 April 2008 20:19

Science - Health

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index has been developed to assess the general health and happiness of people in the United States. However, its results aren’t too rosy. About 51% of Americans are unhappy, but 49% of you guys are happy (Good going!!)


Over one hundred thousand people in the United States were interviewed for the Well-Being survey. The survey is considered one of the most comprehensive investigations into the health and happiness of the American people ever done.

Seventy different questions were asked of people on such topics as diseases, daily physical discomfort, income, employment, mood, and happiness.

The results of the survey, which were released on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, show that 47% of Americans are “struggling” to stay happy. Another 4% are “suffering” from unhappiness and a general lack of promise in their lives.

However, according to the study, 49% of Americans are “thriving” with respect to happiness.

The survey asked questions based on how people feel about their present lives and how they think they will feel in the future.

According to the Associated Press article “Researchers create health, happiness index,“ by Kevin Freking, people were asked to imagine themselves on a ladder with ten steps.

If a person imagined being on step seven or above, then they were considered to be “thriving” with respect to health and happiness. Those people that saw them on step four or lower were considered to be “suffering.” And, those people on steps five or six were considered to be “struggling.”

The survey found that those people who rated themselves as “thriving” tended to be in the higher income levels, have attained higher levels of education, and have had fewer incidences of illness and sickness.

Those labeled in the “suffering” level were found to be hard pressed even to meet their basic needs for shelter, food, and medical care. They generally saw little hope for improvement in their lives.

Among the people in the “suffering” and “struggling” levels, many reported chronic diseases or recurring conditions such as back problems or high cholesterol levels. Over 10% of them suffered from depression. Almost two out of three of these people reported being overweight or obese (dramatically overweight).

What will the survey mean to health care in the United States? Please read on.