Editing Happiness (section)

==Effects==
Happiness research understands "happiness" as "life satisfaction" or "well-being". Since it has proved difficult to find a definition of happiness, individual people are instead asked how happy they feel.<ref>{{citation|author=Bruno S. Frey, Claudia Frey Marti|date=July 2010|doi=10.1007/s10273-010-1097-2|issn=0043-6275|issue=7|pages=458–463|periodical=Wirtschaftsdienst|title=Glück — Die Sicht der Ökonomie|volume=90|hdl=10419/66469 |s2cid=155022706 }}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> Numerous surveys are then summarized and analyzed using static methods. Although some researchers believe that the scales are fundamentally unsuitable for estimating happiness,<ref>{{citation|author=Timothy Bond, Kevin Lang|date=March 2014|doi=10.3386/w19950|issue=w19950|location=Cambridge, MA|pages=w19950|publisher=National Bureau of Economic Research|title=The Sad Truth About Happiness Scales}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> other researchers argue that the happiness indices formed on the basis of the survey have a high statistical correspondence with characteristics that are generally understood to indicate a happy person. For example, individuals who report high happiness on scales smile more often, exhibit more social behavior, are more helpful, and are less likely to commit suicide. For this reason, happiness indices determined on the basis of the survey are considered reliable by happiness researchers.<ref>{{cite news |access-date=20 September 2020 |title=Interview Bruno Frey: Dieser Mann weiß, was uns glücklich macht |newspaper=Die Zeit |date=21 June 2019 |url=https://www.zeit.de/zeit-magazin/leben/2019-06/bruno-frey-gluecksforschung-oekonomie-interview |last1=Faigle |first1=Philip |archive-date=26 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626230429/https://www.zeit.de/zeit-magazin/leben/2019-06/bruno-frey-gluecksforschung-oekonomie-interview |url-status=live }}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

Before recommending strategies, it is crucial to rely on rigorous, large-scale experiments that confirm their effectiveness. Over the past decade, there has been a significant shift in what constitutes 'high-quality [[evidence]]' in psychology (there were adopted e. g. practices like [[Preregistration (science)|pre-registration]], committing to specific methodological and analytical decisions in advance, and increased sample sizes to avoid underpowered studies). A meta analysis of 2023 has used this modern evidence-based approach, evaluating evidence for common happiness-boosting strategies. The study aimed to shed light on the effectiveness of these strategies and their impact on subjective well-being. As a first step, the authors analyzed numerous media articles on happiness to identify the five most commonly recommended strategies, these were: expressing gratitude, enhancing sociability, exercising, practicing mindfulness/meditation, and increasing exposure to nature. Next, the  published scientific literature was searched but limited to the above-described high-quality criteria that tested the effects of these strategies on subjective well-being in everyday individuals (non-clinical samples). Only 10% of the initially retrieved studies met those rigorous criteria. The findings revealed that unlike so far suggested by scientific studies, there is currently still a lack of robust scientific evidence to support some of the most frequently suggested happiness strategies. Among the five most common happiness strategies, there was "reasonably solid evidence" of positive effects from a) Gratitude messages or lists, b) conversations with strangers or  Gratitude and sociability – that is, establishing and maintaining social relationships. In contrast, no convincing evidence could be found that c) sports, d) mindfulness training, or e) walks in the countryside make people happier.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Folk |first1=Dunigan |last2=Dunn |first2=Elizabeth |date=20 July 2023 |title=A systematic review of the strength of evidence for the most commonly recommended happiness strategies in mainstream media |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01651-4 |journal=Nature Human Behaviour |volume=7 |issue=10 |language=en |pages=1697–1707 |doi=10.1038/s41562-023-01651-4 |pmid=37474838 |s2cid=259993279 |issn=2397-3374 |access-date=20 July 2023 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720200824/https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01651-4 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Positive===
There is a wealth of cross-sectional studies on happiness and physical health that shows consistent positive relationships.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Veenhoven |first1=R. |title=World Database of Happiness, section Correlational findings on happiness and Physical Health |url=https://worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl/ |website=World Database of Happiness: Continuous register of scientific research on subjective appreciation of life. |publisher=Erasmus University Rotterdam}}</ref> Follow-up studies appear to show that happiness does not predict longevity in sick populations, but that it does predict longevity among healthy populations.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=R. Veenhoven |title=Healthy happiness: effects of happiness on physical health and the consequences for preventive health care |journal=Journal of Happiness Studies |year=2008 |volume=9 |issue=3 |pages=449–469 |doi=10.1007/s10902-006-9042-1 |s2cid=9854467 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Other positive effects of happiness and being in a good mood, that have been studied and confirmed, are that happier people tend to be more helpful, attentive, and generous to others,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Isen |first=Alice M. |date=August 1970 |title=Success, failure, attention, and reaction to others: The warm glow of success. |url=http://doi.apa.org/getdoi.cfm?doi=10.1037/h0029610 |journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology |language=en |volume=15 |issue=4 |pages=294–301 |doi=10.1037/h0029610 |issn=1939-1315}}</ref> as well as to themselves.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mischel |first1=Walter |last2=Coates |first2=Brian |last3=Raskoff |first3=Antonette |date=December 1968 |title=Effects of success and failure on self-gratification. |url=http://doi.apa.org/getdoi.cfm?doi=10.1037/h0026800 |journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology |language=en |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=381–390 |doi=10.1037/h0026800 |issn=1939-1315 |access-date=24 June 2023 |archive-date=5 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805023145/https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037/h0026800 |url-status=live }}</ref> Happy people also have been shown to act more cooperatively and less aggressively,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Carnevale |first1=Peter J.D |last2=Isen |first2=Alice M |date=February 1986 |title=The influence of positive affect and visual access on the discovery of integrative solutions in bilateral negotiation |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/0749597886900415 |journal=Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes |language=en |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=1–13 |doi=10.1016/0749-5978(86)90041-5 |hdl=2027.42/26263 |access-date=24 June 2023 |archive-date=8 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208074714/https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/0749597886900415 |url-status=live }}</ref> and be more likely to help others in need.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Isen |first1=Alice M. |last2=Levin |first2=Paula F. |date=March 1972 |title=Effect of feeling good on helping: Cookies and kindness. |url=http://doi.apa.org/getdoi.cfm?doi=10.1037/h0032317 |journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology |language=en |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=384–388 |doi=10.1037/h0032317 |pmid=5060754 |issn=1939-1315 |access-date=24 June 2023 |archive-date=5 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805023257/https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037/h0032317 |url-status=live }}</ref> They were also found to be more sociable and communicative.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Cunningham |first=Michael R. |date=June 1988 |title=Does Happiness Mean Friendliness?: Induced Mood and Heterosexual Self-Disclosure |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0146167288142007 |journal=Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin |language=en |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=283–297 |doi=10.1177/0146167288142007 |pmid=30045476 |s2cid=51720219 |issn=0146-1672 |access-date=24 June 2023 |archive-date=16 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816181616/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0146167288142007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

More positive effects that happiness seems to evoke are creative problem solving,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Isen |first1=Alice M. |last2=Daubman |first2=Kimberly A. |last3=Nowicki |first3=Gary P. |date=1987 |title=Positive affect facilitates creative problem solving. |url=http://doi.apa.org/getdoi.cfm?doi=10.1037/0022-3514.52.6.1122 |journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology |language=en |volume=52 |issue=6 |pages=1122–1131 |doi=10.1037/0022-3514.52.6.1122 |pmid=3598858 |issn=1939-1315 |access-date=24 June 2023 |archive-date=5 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805023257/https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037/0022-3514.52.6.1122 |url-status=live }}</ref> persisting through challenges,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hill |first1=Patrick L. |last2=Burrow |first2=Anthony L. |last3=Bronk |first3=Kendall Cotton |date=February 2016 |title=Persevering with Positivity and Purpose: An Examination of Purpose Commitment and Positive Affect as Predictors of Grit |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10902-014-9593-5 |journal=Journal of Happiness Studies |language=en |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=257–269 |doi=10.1007/s10902-014-9593-5 |s2cid=254691445 |issn=1389-4978}}</ref> more intrinsic motivation for work related or responsible tasks,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Isen |first1=Alice M. |last2=Reeve |first2=Johnmarshall |date=December 2005 |title=The Influence of Positive Affect on Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation: Facilitating Enjoyment of Play, Responsible Work Behavior, and Self-Control |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11031-006-9019-8 |journal=Motivation and Emotion |language=en |volume=29 |issue=4 |pages=295–323 |doi=10.1007/s11031-006-9019-8 |s2cid=13324078 |issn=0146-7239 |access-date=24 June 2023 |archive-date=5 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805023750/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11031-006-9019-8 |url-status=live }}</ref> and being more effective at using efficient decision-making strategies.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Isen |first1=Alice M. |last2=Means |first2=Barbara |date=March 1983 |title=The Influence of Positive Affect on Decision-Making Strategy |url=http://guilfordjournals.com/doi/10.1521/soco.1983.2.1.18 |journal=Social Cognition |language=en |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=18–31 |doi=10.1521/soco.1983.2.1.18 |issn=0278-016X |access-date=24 June 2023 |archive-date=3 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803092536/https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/10.1521/soco.1983.2.1.18 |url-status=live }}</ref>

While some believe that success breeds happiness, Lyubomirsky, King and Diener found that happiness precedes success in income, relationships, marriages, work performance, and health.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lyubomirsky |first1=Sonja |last2=King |first2=Laura |last3=Diener |first3=Ed |date=November 2005 |title=The Benefits of Frequent Positive Affect: Does Happiness Lead to Success? |url=http://doi.apa.org/getdoi.cfm?doi=10.1037/0033-2909.131.6.803 |journal=Psychological Bulletin |language=en |volume=131 |issue=6 |pages=803–855 |doi=10.1037/0033-2909.131.6.803 |pmid=16351326 |s2cid=684129 |issn=1939-1455 |access-date=24 June 2023 |archive-date=5 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805023715/https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037/0033-2909.131.6.803 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Depression (mood)|Low mood]] is correlated with many negative life outcomes such as suicide, poor health, substance abuse, and low life expectancy. By extension, happiness protects from those negative outcomes.

===Negative===
[[June Gruber]] argued that happiness may trigger a person to be more sensitive, more gullible, less successful, and more likely to undertake high risk behaviours.<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=|title=Too much Happiness Can Make You Unhappy|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/too-much-happiness-can-make-you-unhappy-studies-show/2012/04/02/gIQACELLrS_story.html|access-date=|newspaper=Washington Post|archive-date=13 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013162631/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/too-much-happiness-can-make-you-unhappy-studies-show/2012/04/02/gIQACELLrS_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Isen |first1=Alice M. |last2=Patrick |first2=Robert |date=April 1983 |title=The effect of positive feelings on risk taking: When the chips are down |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/0030507383901204 |journal=Organizational Behavior and Human Performance |language=en |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=194–202 |doi=10.1016/0030-5073(83)90120-4 |access-date=24 June 2023 |archive-date=19 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119171329/https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/0030507383901204 |url-status=live }}</ref> She also conducted studies suggesting that seeking happiness can have negative effects, such as failure to meet over-high expectations.<ref name="gruberpeplab.com">{{cite web | url=http://gruberpeplab.com/research.php | title=Positive Emotion and Psychopathology Lab – Director Dr. June Gruber | access-date=12 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010182826/http://www.gruberpeplab.com/research.php | archive-date=10 October 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jan/04/trying-to-be-happy-could-make-you-miserable-study-finds|title=Trying to be happy could make you miserable, study finds|date=4 January 2020|website=The Guardian|access-date=25 September 2020|archive-date=5 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805023713/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jan/04/trying-to-be-happy-could-make-you-miserable-study-finds|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Can Seeking Happiness Make People H">{{cite journal |last1=Mauss |first1=Iris B. |last2=Tamir |first2=Maya |last3=Anderson |first3=Craig L. |last4=Savino |first4=Nicole S. |title=Can Seeking Happiness Make People Happy? Paradoxical Effects of Valuing Happiness |journal=Emotion |date=2011 |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=807–815 |doi=10.1037/a0022010 |pmid=21517168 |pmc=3160511 }}</ref> [[Iris Mauss]] has shown that the more people strive for happiness, the more likely they will set up too high of standards and feel disappointed.<ref name=":5">{{cite journal |last1=Mauss |first1=Iris B. |last2=Tamir |first2=Maya |last3=Anderson |first3=Craig L. |last4=Savino |first4=Nicole S. |title=Can seeking happiness make people unhappy? Paradoxical effects of valuing happiness |journal=Emotion |date=August 2011 |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=807–815 |doi=10.1037/a0022010 |pmid=21517168 |pmc=3160511 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=25 August 2015|title=Four "Inside Out" insights to discuss and improve our kids' emotional lives (and our own)|url=https://sharpbrains.com/blog/2015/08/25/four-inside-out-insights-to-discuss-and-improve-our-emotional-lives/|access-date=24 November 2020|website=SharpBrains|language=en-US|archive-date=23 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123215749/https://sharpbrains.com/blog/2015/08/25/four-inside-out-insights-to-discuss-and-improve-our-emotional-lives/|url-status=live}}</ref>  One study shows that women who value happiness more tend to react less positively to happy emotions.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mauss |first1=Iris B. |last2=Tamir |first2=Maya |last3=Anderson |first3=Craig L. |last4=Savino |first4=Nicole S. |date=August 2011 |title=Can seeking happiness make people unhappy? Paradoxical effects of valuing happiness. |journal=Emotion |language=en |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=807–815 |doi=10.1037/a0022010 |issn=1931-1516 |pmc=3160511 |pmid=21517168}}</ref> A 2012 study found that psychological [[Subjective well-being|well-being]] was higher for people who experienced both positive and [[negative emotion]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal | title=Mixed Emotional Experience is Associated with and Precedes Improvements in Psychological Well-Being| journal=PLOS ONE| volume=7| issue=4| pages=e35633| bibcode=2012PLoSO...735633A| last1=Adler| first1=Jonathan M.| last2=Hershfield| first2=Hal E.| year=2012| doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0035633| pmid=22539987| pmc=3334356| doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hershfield |first1=Hal E. |last2=Scheibe |first2=Susanne |last3=Sims |first3=Tamara L. |last4=Carstensen |first4=Laura L. |title=When Feeling Bad Can Be Good: Mixed Emotions Benefit Physical Health Across Adulthood |journal=Social Psychological and Personality Science |date=January 2013 |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=54–61 |doi=10.1177/1948550612444616 |pmid=24032072 |pmc=3768126 }}</ref>