A study found that citizens in societies with the lowest financial levels reported a degree of happiness similar to that of Scandinavian countries, which is usually the highest in the world.

The results of the study indicate that high levels of subjective well-being can be achieved with minimal funds, challenging the perception that economic growth will automatically raise life satisfaction among low-income populations.

According to Sciencedaily, researchers from McGill University and the University of Barcelona were interested in knowing how people rate their subjective well-being in societies where money does not play an important role, and which is also not usually included in global happiness surveys.

They found that the majority of people reported significantly higher levels of happiness.

Feeling comfortable and safe, not having money

The researchers interviewed 678 people, ages from their mid-20s to early 50s, with an average age of about 37, in the Solomon Islands and Bangladesh.

The scientists compared a poorer community with people living in big cities who did much better financially.

The researchers found two main things, that people who lived in urban areas and earned a lot of money reported lower levels of happiness, while people who lived in poorer areas with lower incomes reported higher levels of happiness.

Rural communities also enjoyed their time with family and being in nature.

The researchers concluded that in these poor countries people were happy, and in urban areas where people were getting ahead financial gains may be detrimental to their happiness.

This supports the concept that happiness is not primarily related to economic output but rather when people feel safe they feel comfortable.

"This is important because it could help us figure out how social well-being is achieved in less developed countries," says Eric Galbraith, a professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at McGill University and first author on the study.

Sarah Minaro, the study's lead author, comments on the findings, saying, "Overall, our results suggest that income generation, especially in its early stages, may actually be detrimental to happiness."

Chris Barrington-Lee, a professor at McGill University, says, "This makes us realize that the important support for happiness is not in principle related to economic production, but to people feeling comfortable, safe, and free to enjoy life within a strong society. They are happy regardless of whether they earn anything." money or not.”

Study: People who live in urban areas and earn money experience lower levels of happiness (Shutterstock)

Those with high salaries

High-paid individuals may not be able to enjoy life's small pleasures due to stressful, time-consuming jobs.

According to the "Health" website, a survey found that American employees who earn more money experienced much higher levels of stress. While these higher incomes buy pleasures such as vacations and nice meals in restaurants, stress can play a major role in an individual's overall happiness. .

Health also reports that some people who live in very poor conditions, such as makeshift plastic tents and all their belongings in one bag on their back, have bright, cheerful smiles.

The question is: How can someone who has almost nothing be so happy?

The answer is that they are people who are grateful for what they have, whether their lives or their families, and the little they do have.

What do we learn from the study?

Psychologytoday asks a question about what can be learned from the McGill and Barcelona studies, and answers:

  • Sense of community and living in nature

These rural communities studied were not starving, they lived in a community where their basic needs were easily met.

The main thing they had was a sense of community and nature.

These two factors seemed to contribute to the overall levels of happiness they experienced.

  • Sacrifice for money is harmful to happiness

Money in itself does not harm us and wealth does not make us happy in and of itself, but what makes us unhappy is the sacrifice for that wealth or attachment to things.

In return, family and friends must be cared for and a sense of belonging to the community.

If we put our focus on family and a sense of belonging, we'll do things at a slower pace, enjoy outdoor picnics and watch sunsets, plus we'll do our work while we're enjoying it.

We don't need much to be happy, we just need people in our lives to laugh, play and have fun (Pixels)

  • Don't let your mind fool you

We often tell ourselves that we will work really hard for a while and then we will enjoy our life, but this trick often fails, and we do not even know if we will reach a stage where we can enjoy life, we may be very exhausted and have health problems, and we may suffer damage Side by side from everyone we've lost or been hurt because we work all the time.

  • The fisherman's story

According to Psychology Today, one of the best stories that illustrates money-based happiness is the story of a man who has a small boat and goes out to the ocean to fish for a while and then comes back with enough fish to eat.

Then he sits on the beach enjoying the beautiful nature around him.

When a rich man sees him, he advises him to make more money by spending more time working and selling the extra fish.

After saving more money, he buys more boats and hires people to expand the business.

When he makes enough money after 10 or 20 years, he can relax and enjoy life.

Here the fisherman looked at the rich man and said to him, "This is what I am doing now. I am enjoying life, so why am I doing all this?"

We don't need much to be happy, we just need people in our lives to laugh, play and have fun.

We also need to take time to enjoy life and enjoy the beauty around us.