of happiness It’s no longer just a philosophical question. Various scientific studies are beginning to prove that: This emotional state has direct implications for public health. Beyond subjective feelings, happiness is measurable and, according to new findings, can even affect lifespan.
Recent research suggests that, like quitting smoking, achieving a certain level of well-being may protect us from life-shortening diseases.
Beyond feeling good: How happiness protects your health
A team from the University of Alba Iulia in Romania, led by Professor Julia Luga, analyzed the relationship between happiness and mortality in a study published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine. “We showed that subjective well-being, or well-being, appears to act as an asset for people’s health only when it exceeds a minimum threshold of about 2.7 on the Ladder of Life scale,” Ruga explains.
This scale measures an individual’s sense of well-being on a scale of 0 to 10. 0 represents the worst life and 10 represents the best life. The data was collected from 2006 to 2021, covering 123 countries and based on global health statistics and public opinion surveys.
above the point 2.7this study found a significant reduction in mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs). “The ladder of life can be visualized as a simple happiness formula from 0 to 10, where 0 means the worst life and 10 means the best life. People imagine where they are on that ladder,” the researchers added.
Why does life expectancy change by 2.7 points?
score of 2.7 is at the lower limit. welfare. “An adjective that fits this level might be ‘just barely getting by,'” Ruga points out. However, beyond that threshold, changes can occur. For every 1% increase in happiness, happiness decreases. 0.43% Changes in mortality rates due to NCDs 30 years and 70 years.
The study found no negative effects associated with high levels of happiness. “We found no evidence of negative effects of ‘excess’ happiness within the range observed,” Ruga says. In contrast, those who remain below the threshold show no measurable improvement in their health status, suggesting that increasing basic well-being is a necessary proactive step.
Countries that perform better tend to invest more. public health, stronger social protection networks and more stable governments;. The global average of the happiness scale during the analysis period was 5.45 points, with values ranging from 2.18 to 7.97.
Science has identified 2.7 points on the “ladder of life” as a critical level of happiness. Photo: Stock
The virtuous cycle: How health and well-being interact
Researchers caution that because happiness scores are self-reported, they may reflect cultural biases or differences in interpretation of questions. Still, the results suggest that Promoting policies that promote collective well-being (Reducing obesity, limiting alcohol intake, improving air quality, increasing per capita health spending, etc.) can have a measurable impact on longevity.
“Identifying this tipping point could provide more accurate evidence for health policy,” Ruga concludes. “Happiness is not only a personal emotion, but also a measurable resource for public health.”
Main conclusions of the study:
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