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ONE SECRET TO happiness may lie in genes, a new study suggests.
Denmark and other Scandinavian countries regularly top world happiness rankings, and while many factors influence happiness, genetics may play a larger role than previously thought, according to the study authors.
The new research examined the average genetic makeup of people in more than 100 countries, and compared how similar their genes were to people living in Denmark — a measurement called genetic distance. They found that the greater a nation’s genetic distance from Denmark, the lower the reported well-being of that nation.
The findings held even after the researchers took into account other factors that could affect happiness, such as GDP level and cultural differences, said Eugenio Proto, a professor of economics at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom and one of the researchers on the study.
Proto and his colleague, Andrew Oswald, compared the genes of people in 131 countries, and used data on happiness from the Gallup World Poll, World Value Survey and European Quality of Life Surveys.
Countries near Denmark, like the Netherlands and Sweden, ranked among the happiest. Given their close proximity, these countries are some of the most genetically similar to Denmark. Countries that ranked particularly low on the happiness scale, like Ghana and Madagascar, have the least genetic similarity to Denmark.
The researchers also looked at the relationship between people’s well-being and the mutation of a gene that governs serotonin, a chemical linked to feelings of happiness. The research is controversial, but some studies have found that individuals with a mutated, shorter copy of this gene report lower happiness levels.
Lars Ulrich of Metallica… A Dane, and therefore naturally happy – apparently.
For this part of the study, the researchers looked at people in 30 countries and compared how many people had the mutation in each country. They found that Denmark and the Netherlands have the lowest percentage of people with the mutated shorter copy of the gene, and also ranked the happiest. Italy had the highest percentage of people with the mutation, and ranked the least happy of the 30 countries.
Finally, the researchers looked to see if the link between genetics and happiness was passed down from generation to generation. They examined well-being surveys from a group of Americans, and then traced the origin of their ancestors. They found that the happiest Americans descended from immigrants from the happiest countries.
David Meyers, a professor of psychology at Hope College in Michigan, who was not involved in the research, said there are many other factors that influence happiness, like sleep, exercise and the quality of relationships in a person’s life. Still, genes likely play a role, too, he said.
“There’s ample evidence from twin studies of a genetic influence on happiness,” Meyers told Live Science in an email.
Genes matter, much like the influence of genes on cholesterol levels. And just as cholesterol levels are also influenced by diet and exercise, so happiness is also influenced by behaviors under our control.
Proto said more research is needed to explore the possible link between genetics and happiness.
- Kelly Dickerson
How could people Madagascar be unhappy !! They have lemurs singing ” I like to move it move it ” .
But they have the foosa! The scary, scary foosa
So why do the Danes have the highest consumption of anti depressants in the world ?
They’re the happiest anti-depressants in the world, though.
I know why they are unhappy…….how many symbols and drawings and such of Africa do you see without Madagascar? Enough to outdo the elation of singing lemurs
It’s not science, it’s Lego.
It’s not Lego it’s Carlsberg .
Probably is!!
Conversely, are they trying to say the further you get from Ireland the happier you get ?
We wouldn’t be happy there. It’s about 10 quid a pint.
Oh and Costa Rica top the world happiness index , now unless they have magically rowed the entire county from central America to Scandinavia , I’m calling Shanagains
Danes go in for equality, consensus , comprise, and discussions and debate always focus on what is best for society in general,
whereas Ireland, in my opinion is ruled by the elite for the elite.
plenty of countries like Spain have lower suicide rates than the Nordic countries, they aint all happy
It must be the genetic viking influence that makes me happy when the sun is shining.
Genetic Viking how much is that a pint
Highest taxes in the world and they’re still happy, well blow me.
I would be happy paying higher taxes if we could see that it improves our quality of life, instead of just paying for more of the same sub standard bulls#it.
€10 a beer and 57% income tax and still happy.
Is this is true Denmark my words Il be moving there
Ya beating helpless dolphins to death, sounds like a great place to live.
That will be addressed in the “Dolphin Happiness Index” article to be published shortly. I suppose you realise that the Faroe Islands are an autonomous province of Denmark, not actually part of the country and are self-governing ? No ? Well you do now. Not condoning what goes on, just putting the record straight.
Obviously true as LaFin-land is right beside it….I’m sorry!
Interesting, but their may be a simpler explanation , the Netherlands and Sweden are rich and well developed countries, Ghana and Madagascar are very poor. Now if a Viking gene is the answer, people in Northern Scotland and the Faro Islands should be just as happy, now I doubt if the are.
The entire “findings” of this Danish study are derived from the popularized idea that serotonin is the “happy chemical.” A lot of sound evidence shows that this notion is an assumption instead of a well established fact (see: http://www.supplements-and-health.com/tryptophan-side-effects.html ). The drug industry is behind the misleading promotion of the serotonin-as-the-feel-good-substance in order to sell their antidepressant drugs.
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