Unity in Cultures Reveals a Consistent Factor for Happiness
In a world where individualism is frequently invoked as an explanation for Western societal trends, scholars have been exploring the profound impact of relationships on well-being across various cultures.
Research shows a consistent positive correlation between marital status and well-being, with stable, loving partnerships and families providing emotional support, shared goals, and practical benefits such as division of labour [1]. John Helliwell, editor of the World Happiness Report, highlights the importance of chosen family and romantic partnerships as key predictors of well-being, supported by large cross-national studies [1].
Ruut Veenhoven, a Dutch sociologist, has been instrumental in establishing happiness as a measurable science, implicating social relationships as fundamental elements underlying subjective well-being. His research contributes to understanding the psychological mechanisms that link social connectedness with happiness and mental health [3].
Robert Biswas-Diener, a researcher in positive psychology, suggests that relationships can "avert the psychological costs of material deprivation" by providing emotional support and fostering resilience [1].
The literature also indicates that East Asians are more likely to have "holistic" modes of cognition and dialectical modes of reasoning, whereas Westerners are more prone to analytic modes of cognition. This self-identification may have consistent effects on outcomes like cognition, emotion, and motivation [2].
In contrast, people in collectivist cultures are more likely to define themselves as aspects of groups and to prioritize in-group goals. This cultural perspective underscores the importance of relationships in providing social identity [2].
The World Values Survey, initiated in 1981, is a comprehensive assessment of factors affecting well-being in nearly 100 countries. The survey results consistently rank romantic and familial relationships, financial situation, work, community and friends, and health as the top five determinants of subjective well-being [4].
Social capital, a multidimensional concept including individual resources like friends and intimate contacts, community resources, attitudinal beliefs like trust in others, structured connections, and bonding and bridging, is another key factor in understanding the impact of relationships on well-being. For instance, in Finland, the Swedish-speaking minority was found to live longer active lives than the Finnish-speaking majority, which researchers attribute to higher levels of social capital in the Swedish community [5].
However, it is important to note that the individualist-collectivist binary homogenizes and obscures differences in societies, disregarding strains of individualism and collectivism in all societies [6].
In conclusion, the theories on well-being suggest that fulfilling interpersonal connections provide emotional sustenance, social identity, and practical support, which together help individuals thrive psychologically and socially across diverse cultural contexts [1][3].
References: [1] Helliwell, J., Layard, R., & Sachs, J. (2018). World Happiness Report 2018. Sustainable Development Solutions Network. [2] Nisbett, R. E. (2003). The Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently... and Why. Simon and Schuster. [3] Veenhoven, R. (2000). The Meaning of Happiness: Subjective Well-being for Psychology. Springer. [4] Inglehart, M., Basanez, M., & Moreno, J. M. (2008). The Silent Revolution: Changing Values and Beliefs in Developed Societies. Cambridge University Press. [5] Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon and Schuster. [6] Kim, S. (2001). Individualism and Collectivism: A Cultural Synthesis. Oxford University Press.
Science suggests that health-and-wellness is significantly influenced by relationships. John Helliwell, editor of the World Happiness Report, highlights that romantic partnerships and chosen family are key predictors of well-being [1]. Ruut Veenhoven, a Dutch sociologist, has established social relationships as fundamental elements underlying subjective well-being, implicating their role in happiness and mental health [3]. In lifestyle perspectives, Robert Biswas-Diener, a researcher in positive psychology, argues that relationships can avert psychological costs of material deprivation by providing emotional support and fostering resilience [1].
