In a study conducted by the University of Virginia, University of Illinois and Michigan State University, looked at data from the World Values Survey, a large-scale analysis of economic, social, political and religious influences around the world and analyzed the behaviors and attitudes of 193 students at Illinois.

Their findings revealed that those who reported to be very happy (people who report that they are 10s on a 10-point life satisfaction score) are some cases worse off than their less than jubilant counterparts.”The highest levels of income, education and political anticipation were reported not by the most satisfied individuals (10 on the 10-point scale),” the authors wrote, “but by moderately satisfied individuals (8 or 9 on the 10-point scale).”

“The 10s earned significantly less money than the eights and nines. Their educational achievements and political engagement were also significantly lower than their moderately happy and happy-but-not-blissful counterparts.”

Ed Diener, an Illinois psychology professor and one of the authors of the study said: “In the more social realms, however, the 10s were the most successful, engaging more often in volunteer activities and maintaining more stable relationships.” Altogether, “the evidence indicates that happiness is a worthy goal for those who lack it, but the endless pursuit of even more happiness for the already happy may be counterproductive.”

“If you’re worried about success in life, don’t be a 1, 2, 3 or 4 (on the 10-point scale),” Diener said. “If you are unhappy or only slightly happy, you may need to seek help or read those self-help books or do something to make yourself happier. But if you’re a 7 or 8, maybe you’re happy enough!”

Source: www.eurekalert.org