{"id":79493,"date":"2013-06-18T00:10:54","date_gmt":"2013-06-18T04:10:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=79493"},"modified":"2013-06-21T10:30:17","modified_gmt":"2013-06-21T14:30:17","slug":"money-may-not-buy-happiness-but-it-helps-poll-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2013\/06\/money-may-not-buy-happiness-but-it-helps-poll-finds\/","title":{"rendered":"Money May Not Buy Happiness, But It Helps, Poll Finds"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\u201cIf<\/a>
\u201cIf you were to consider your life in general, how happy or unhappy would you say you are, on the whole?\u201d
Source: The University of Connecticut\/Hartford Courant survey of 1,006 randomly selected adults nationwide, June 4-June 11, 2013.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

While very few Americans say that money is the most important factor in determining whether they\u2019re happy in life, the more they earn the happier they are, according to a new University of Connecticut\/Hartford Courant Poll.<\/p>\n

The survey provides an in-depth look at how Americans feel about their lives, gauging happiness by everything from specific qualities of jobs to how often people exercise.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cIf<\/a>
\u201cIf you had to say, which one of the following things do you think is most important in determining how happy you are in life \u2026\u201d
Source: The University of Connecticut\/Hartford Courant survey of 1,006 randomly selected adults nationwide, June 4-June 11, 2013.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Overall, most Americans say intangible qualities are key to their happiness, with 50 percent identifying closeness to family as the most important factor and 21 percent saying it\u2019s good health. Just 3 percent identify a lot of money as the top factor, and only 8 percent say it\u2019s a rewarding career.<\/p>\n

At the same time, 71 percent of Americans earning $100,000 a year or more report feeling either completely happy or very happy with their lives, compared to 60 percent of those making between $60,000 and $100,000 annually, and 49 percent of people earning under $60,000.<\/p>\n

Other factors tied to personal wealth relate to the likelihood of being happy, the survey found: 68 percent of homeowners report feeling happy, compared to 47 percent of renters. And 58 percent of people with jobs say they\u2019re happy, compared to 47 percent of unemployed people.<\/p>\n

Overall, 58 percent of Americans say they\u2019re either completely happy or very happy, but that seeming bliss has some complications. Forty-two percent say they frequently experience stress in their daily lives, and 62 percent say they\u2019d be happier if their household incomes were to double.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cIn<\/a>
\u201cIn general, how often do you experience stress in your daily life \u2014 never, rarely, sometimes, or frequently?\u201d
Source: The University of Connecticut\/Hartford Courant survey of 1,006 randomly selected adults nationwide, June 4-June 11, 2013.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve all heard some variation of the phrase \u2018money can\u2019t buy happiness,\u2019 and while people are reluctant to say it\u2019s the most important thing in life, it clearly plays a role,\u201d UConn Poll Director Jennifer Necci Dineen said. \u201cMoney can also factor into some of these other areas, like quality of health and housing, which contribute to overall happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to the broader measures of happiness, the UConn\/Courant Poll discovered fine-grained detail about specific aspects of Americans\u2019 lives, including:<\/p>\n