The United States is among the most powerful and prosperous countries in the world. But according to a recently released study, Americans are not among the happiest.
A happiness study conducted by the World Values Survey and published in the United Kingdom’s New Scientist magazine analyzed happiness levels in 65 countries.
The United States ranked 16th in the poll while Nigeria, Mexico, Venezuela, El Salvador and Puerto Rico took the Top 5.
Russia, Armenia and Romania were found to have the lowest percentage of happy people.
The survey was a worldwide investigation of socio-cultural and political change conducted between 1999-2001.
The survey said people viewed personal success and self-expression as the most important aspects of being happy in the United States.
Rob Kall, organizer and founder of positivepsychology.net – a Web site that looks at multiple psychology issues – said leading a happy life in America is a lot different from living a happy life in a small, third world country.
“In the United States television has created a want to have [and a] want to be mindset,” Kall said. “It leaves people always wanting more than they can have or ever receive.”
Kall said he has found that happy people live virtuous and honest lives while creating reasonable challenges they can meet.
Rachel Miller, an English junior, said despite the United States’ low ranking she believes it is a happy place to live.
“In other countries they do not have the same freedoms that we do,” Miller said. “I can get up every morning and just do whatever. I mean I have responsibilities, but I have the choice to do what I want.”
The survey also asked about people’s wealth and lifestyles. The survey said that money does not make the world happy, and material goods can be looked upon as “a happiness suppressant.”
Miller said she could see how that could be the case.
“If you worry about money all the time you are not going to be happy,” Miller said. “You need to worry about more important things like family and friends.”