Does " Money " buy " Happiness " ??????????

[Cardinal Joe]

For Happiness, Seek Family, Not Fortune
June 19, 2008 -- Money might buy happiness for some, but for most people having strong family ties is a much bigger predictor of contentment than income, a new study shows.
When researchers analyzed data tracking married people over a decade, they found that while income did contribute to happiness up to a point, the quality of family relationships was much more important.
The study is one of the first to examine the impact of economic and family changes over time.

Money, Family, and Happiness
North and colleagues from the University of Texas at Austin analyzed data from a study involving 274 married adults living in the San Francisco Bay area who were followed from 1981 to 1991.
Each of the participants completed surveys at four different time periods over the decade-long study designed to measure changes in family income, family support, and happiness.
The surveys indicated that while happiness was strongly tied to changes in the quality of family relationships over time, it was much less strongly tied to changes in income.
"If you ask people about this, I think most would say that family relationships are more important than family income for happiness," North says. "But if you look at the way people allocate their time, you might get a different idea."
Different Perspective on Happiness and Money
Using polling data from both rich and poor countries, the researchers found personal satisfaction to be highest among people living in the richest countries. Within the countries, people with higher incomes tended to be happier than those with less money. ( NO SHIT ) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How much of our tax dollars went into this Research Study ?????????????????? Hell , they could have just asked HUBRIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cardinal Joe
In the U.S., for example, 90% of people in households making at least $250,000 considered themselves "very happy," compared to just 42% of people in households with incomes below $30,000.
"We looked at 35 years' worth of data and found the relationship between income and happiness to be very strong," Stevenson tells WebMD.
The research by Stevenson and Wolfers shows that people living in households with annual incomes of $250,000 tended to report higher levels of personal satisfaction than people living in households with annual earnings of $120,000. ( Another NO BRAINER ) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"We didn't look at the super-rich, so we can't really say if Bill Gates is that much happier than the rest of us," Stevenson says.
About 1% of American families have annual incomes of $250,000 or more, while just 5% earn $120,000 or more.

Cardinal Joe

[Robja]

Joe,

My question is why did it take them from 1991 to 2008 to analyze the data that tell them what they already should have known. I thought we lived in an age of computers. Heck, even with a slide rule, pen and paper it would not take that long. (for the real young people on this site the slide rule was pre-handheld calciulators)

[Hatterized]

analyzed data from a study involving 274 married adults living in the San Francisco Bay

...um well keep in mind they were happy and spent more $$$$ on KY Jelly and rubbers on Gay Pride Day....

[Robja]

Good point. and lets not forget all the acid they dropped during the 60's

[Hallnass282]

...um well keep in mind they were happy and spent more $$$$ on KY Jelly and rubbers on Gay Pride Day.... [/QUOTE]

They don't have woman in their lives to take their money

[perfectscore]

during bad times, three years ago eveyone sang a different tune but now how it all changes, not me.....neveer stop, never stop, never stop makin money good times bad times whatever.........

[Henrique38]

In the U.S., for example, 90% of people in households making at least $250,000 considered themselves "very happy," compared to just 42% of people in households with incomes below $30,000.
"Cardinal Joe

That could also mean that people with the capacity to make more money have a better out look on life. Maybe the people making +$250,000 have a healthier mental attitude to start with.

[joeksr]

In my Opinion ?

Absolutely, Money can not buy happiness, There are a lot of screwed up affluent people in this world.

On the other hand,
Try being happy when your decision for the day is weather to buy food, pay for heat or get the meds you need cause you can't pay for all 3.

[RichardTerp]

A wise man(my father) one told me and I believe it. Money doesn't buy happiness it provides options.

[Glenn W]

It may not buy happyness but it can damn sure make your misery more comfortable.----- If anyone believes money doesn't help with their wiell being and happyness in life, please give me your money---- I'm happy to be a marter for you.