“Prosperity” of loved ones' is the key to happiness: A Cambridge University Study

A novel research finds that people link their happiness with that of the welfare and prosperity of their loved ones.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge, England found that both men and women consider a contented, settled family life as the key to happiness. Lead researcher, Professor Jaqueline Scott said, “Men and women may view happiness differently, but when you dig deeper and look at the nature of their perceptions, you find that in both cases their well-being is bound up with that of others.”

Details of the study
The researchers conducted the study as part of the British Household Panel Survey wherein they reviewed over 10,300 adults from 5,500 households across England. In the study that went on from 1997 till 2002, the researchers examined what kind of life affected people in what manner. Under the study, the subjects were asked questions like what according to them was essential for a happy and prosperous living that could well secure their quality of life.

Results of the study
On analyzing their responses, the researchers found that more than a third of the subjects chose health, family and finance as sole means of happiness. Researchers elaborated the findings by saying that the responses were gender specific, wherein men cared more about finances and women were more inclined toward their families.

Yet, a more detailed investigation revealed that many subjects linked their own happiness with that of a near one.

Other findings
Furthermore, it was found that health was a major factor central to happiness for about 57 percent females, in contrast to males where the percentage was 50.

On the contrary, 38 percent men gave importance to finance as compared to 33 percent women. It was further noted that family had significance for just 38 percent men against 49 percent women. But analysis discovered that men gave more importance to money, so as to earn a good amount and a happy living for their loved ones.

“Our research suggests that more should be done to support the actions of both men and women in caring for others, because that will have benefits for everybody’s quality of life,” said Scott.

Study collaborators, Dr. Anke Plagnol and Dr. Jane Nolan stated, “Policy-makers should be taking into consideration, by ensuring that provision is made to enable both men and women to spend reasonable amounts of time with their families.”

The study appears in the book Gender Inequalities in the 21st Century.