There is happiness, and then there is flourishing. And as new research has found, having one doesn’t always mean having the other, too. Flourishing indicates you’re living a good life, and it is more than individual happiness — it is evaluated from multiple dimensions, including health, financial security, meaning and relationships, according to the new report. Indonesia topped the rankings of countries where people flourish the most, followed by Mexico and the Philippines, according to the Global Flourishing Study, which published Wednesday. Many of the places that scored highest in terms of flourishing did not rank highly in assessments of the world’s happiest countries, according to the new report that Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion and Harvard University’s Human Flourishing Program developed in partnership with Gallup and the Center for Open Science. The study includes 22 countries and Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China. The research was designed to capture a look at much of the world, said study lead and report contributor Dr. Byron Johnson, distinguished professor of the social sciences at Baylor in Waco, Texas. “The uniqueness of the Global Flourishing Study is the size: We are following 207,000 participants around the world in over 40 different languages on the six inhabited continents,” Johnson said. “This gives a voice to approximately 64% of the world’s population.” Although it has some limitations, the study is an ambitious and welcome asset when looking at global well-being, said Dr. Felix Cheung, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and Canada Research Chair in Population Well-Being. Cheung is a coauthor of a chapter in the recent World Happiness Report, which was not a part of the Global Flourishing Study. Wednesday’s report is just the start, said researchers, who will follow up with the people surveyed every year for five years to see how levels of flourishing change and to investigate further the factors that make for a good life. Younger people face challenges One result that stands out in this new research and other reports on well-being is that young people tend not to be doing well in comparison with other age groups. “Perhaps one of the more troubling features of this data is that we find when we aggregate across the 22 countries, flourishing tends to increase with age, so that the youngest individuals are reporting the lowest levels of flourishing,” said Dr. Tyler VanderWeele, study lead and contributor to the report. That isn’t the case everywhere –– in Poland and Tanzania, for example, flourishing tends to be higher for younger people. But for much of the world, patterns of flourishing over a lifetime seem to be changing, said VanderWeele, the John L. Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb Professor of Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “Young people are telling us something is wrong,” Cheung said. There are some theories about why youths are struggling. One study speculated that developed countries tend to have more competitive environments in education systems to get better jobs, which can lead to more stress for young people, he said. One of Cheung’s previous studies found that Americans don’t see a lot of opportunity for social mobility, meaning people feel their hard work doesn’t necessarily pay off. “It’s possible that this perception of lack of social mobility particularly hurts younger folks because they’re just trying to transition from either university or from school into their career,” Cheung said. Surprises in the data Flourishing was assessed using two questions for each of six domains: happiness, health, meaning, character, relationships and financial security. While people in richer, developed countries reported feeling more financially secure and better about how their life was going, these developed countries didn’t tend to rank as highly in other categories such as meaning, relationships or prosocial character, which is behavior that promotes kindness and social cohesion. “This raises important questions with regard to how can we carry out economic development without compromising meaning and purpose and relationships and character,” VanderWeele said. Some countries reporting the highest levels of flourishing were unexpected, he said. Indonesia had the highest level of flourishing, with the Philippines ranked third and Nigeria fifth –– all countries that were not in the top 20 of the World Happiness Report. On the other hand, Sweden was fourth on the list of happiest countries but placed in the middle in the report on flourishing. The United States also ranked toward the middle of countries in the flourishing report. “Why might this be so? Well, this is some of what we have to do in the years ahead to try to understand and unpack these results,” VanderWeele said. Parts of flourishing are in your control While further studies will continue to investigate the factors that most affect flourishing, there are ways in which people can start to evaluate their lives from this research. “One approach to reflecting on one’s own flourishing is simply to go through our 12 core flourishing questions,” VanderWeele said. “One respondent said that she had been thinking about committing to a volunteering activity for some months, and after going through and realizing she was missing a deeper sense of purpose, she decided to make a commitment to this volunteering activity.” You can find the 12 core flourishing questions here. The data also shows that there are ways to find well-being under multiple circumstances –– not just in developed countries with a high gross domestic product, Cheung said. A consistent takeaway from the study and from other research into well-being is that human connection is crucial for a good life, he added. People who participate in religious or civic life tend to report higher well-being as well as those who live with others or regularly share meals, Cheung said. There are aspects of flourishing that are under a person’s control, but some are not, he added. Conflict, natural disasters and economic hardship may take a toll on people’s well-being, and that is natural, Cheung said. “When one person is unhappy, that’s an individual issue,” he said. “But when the population isn’t happy, that’s a structural problem, and a structural problem requires structural solutions.” If you’d like to reflect on the questions to assess flourishing, they include the following. (Check the link to assess the flourishing measures on a scale of 0 to 10):
People can still flourish in hard economic times, new report says. Here is what it takes
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"New Study Highlights Distinction Between Happiness and Flourishing in Global Populations"
CNN
7.7
TruthLens AI Summary
Recent research reveals a distinction between happiness and flourishing, highlighting that one does not necessarily imply the other. Flourishing encompasses a broader evaluation of life quality, including dimensions such as health, financial security, meaning, and relationships. According to the Global Flourishing Study, which surveyed 207,000 participants across 22 countries and Hong Kong, Indonesia emerged as the country where people flourish the most, followed by Mexico and the Philippines. Interestingly, many nations that ranked high in flourishing did not score as highly on happiness indices, indicating a complex relationship between these two concepts. Dr. Byron Johnson, the study's lead contributor, emphasized the study's expansive reach, which captures a significant portion of the global population. The research aims to provide insights into the factors that contribute to a fulfilling life, with plans for ongoing follow-ups over five years to track changes in flourishing levels among participants.
The study also sheds light on the challenges faced by younger individuals in terms of flourishing, as they reported lower levels compared to older age groups. This trend raises concerns, as it suggests that young people are experiencing difficulties in achieving a fulfilling life, potentially due to competitive educational environments and perceptions of limited social mobility. While wealthier nations reported higher financial security, they often lagged in areas such as meaning, relationships, and character, suggesting that economic prosperity does not automatically translate to overall well-being. Surprising findings emerged, such as Indonesia’s top ranking in flourishing despite not being among the happiest countries. Researchers stress the importance of human connections and community involvement for enhancing well-being, noting that while some aspects of flourishing can be influenced by individual choices, external factors like conflict and economic hardship also play a significant role. The study highlights a need for structural solutions to address widespread issues affecting population well-being, as individual unhappiness can reflect broader societal challenges.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article presents findings from a new report that explores the concept of flourishing, emphasizing that it encompasses more than just individual happiness. It highlights how certain countries can rank highly in flourishing despite not being deemed the happiest. This nuanced perspective on well-being aims to challenge common assumptions about happiness and quality of life.
Purpose of the Publication
The report aims to inform readers about the complex nature of human well-being, showcasing that flourishing is a multidimensional construct influenced by various factors like health, financial security, and social relationships. By emphasizing these dimensions, the researchers may seek to encourage a broader understanding of well-being beyond mere happiness, possibly aiming to shift public discourse on what constitutes a fulfilling life.
Public Perception
The study appears to promote a positive narrative about the ability of individuals to flourish even in challenging economic conditions. By presenting countries like Indonesia, Mexico, and the Philippines as examples of flourishing, the report may foster a sense of hope and resilience within communities facing economic hardships. This could lead to a shift in how people perceive their own circumstances and encourage them to seek improvement in various life dimensions.
Potential Concealed Aspects
There might be an underlying intention to downplay the challenges faced by individuals in economically disadvantaged countries by focusing on their flourishing. This could obscure the real issues such as poverty, inequality, or political instability that may hinder true well-being in these regions. The positive framing may serve to divert attention from systemic problems that need addressing.
Manipulative Elements
While the report itself is based on research, its framing can be seen as manipulative if it glosses over significant challenges faced by individuals in the highlighted countries. The emphasis on flourishing could mislead readers into thinking that happiness and well-being are achievable regardless of economic conditions, potentially downplaying the need for structural changes.
Truthfulness of the Article
The article is grounded in research conducted by reputable institutions, lending it credibility. However, the interpretation of the findings may vary, and the selective presentation of data could lead to an incomplete understanding of the broader context of well-being.
Intended Audience
The findings may resonate more with policymakers, mental health professionals, and academic circles, as well as individuals interested in personal development and well-being. There is an effort to appeal to those seeking a deeper understanding of flourishing beyond traditional happiness metrics.
Economic and Political Implications
This report could influence public policy by highlighting the importance of comprehensive measures of well-being in assessing national progress. It may encourage governments to invest in initiatives that enhance various aspects of flourishing, potentially leading to shifts in economic priorities.
Global Power Dynamics
While the report focuses on well-being, it indirectly touches on global power dynamics by showcasing countries that flourish despite economic challenges. This could influence how international organizations prioritize aid and development strategies in different regions, making it relevant to current geopolitical discussions.
AI Involvement
It is possible that AI was used in analyzing data for the study. However, the article does not explicitly state its use. If AI models were employed, they might have influenced the interpretation of the data, particularly in identifying metrics of flourishing and happiness.
Conclusion
Overall, the article presents a credible examination of flourishing but may also reflect a manipulative framing that could lead to misconceptions about the relationship between economic hardship and well-being. The focus on flourishing is a valuable contribution to discussions on quality of life but should be understood within the broader context of socio-economic challenges.