And the HAPPIEST Place on earth is.....

[Stan]

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- If you're looking for happiness, move to Denmark.

It's the happiest country in the world while Burundi in Africa is the most unhappy, according to a new report by a British scientist released on Friday.

Adrian White, an analytical social psychologist at the University of Leicester in central England, based his study on data from 178 countries and 100 global studies from the likes of the United Nations and the World Health Organization.

"We're looking much more at whether you are satisfied with your life in general," White told Reuters. "Whether you are satisfied with your situation and environment."

The main factors that affected happiness were health provision, wealth and education, according to White who said his research had produced the "first world map of happiness."

Following behind Denmark came Switzerland, Austria, Iceland and the Bahamas.

At the bottom came the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe and Burundi. The United States came in at 23rd, Britain was in 41st place, Germany 35th and France 62nd.

Countries involved in conflicts, such as Iraq, were not included.

"Smaller countries tend to be a little happier because there is a stronger sense of collectivism and then you also have the aesthetic qualities of a country," White said.

"We were surprised to see countries in Asia scoring so low, with China 82nd, Japan 90th, and India 125th. These are countries that are thought as having a strong sense of collective identity which other researchers have associated with well-being."

He admitted collecting data based on well-being was not an exact science, but said the measures used were very reliable in predicting health and welfare outcomes.

Regular studies by academics across the globe using the same tests would allow researchers to better understand what factors affected happiness and White said he hoped every country in the future would carry out biannual checks.

Source

[LynnDel]

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The main factors that affected happiness were health provision, wealth and education, according to White

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Those things may provide a sense of security, but security is only a part of what brings true happiness, at least according to my definition. I was glad to see that he "admitted collecting data based on well-being was not an exact science, but said the measures used were very reliable in predicting health and welfare outcomes."

If I were looking for a happy place, I'd look for a place where people looked happy, were friendly, and treated each other with love and care.

LynnDel

[Gerr]

What do you expect? I could be mistaken, but couldn't sex & drugs be bought more easily in Denmark! <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/mittelgr124.gif" alt="" />

Gerry

[olger]

Amen Lyndel.

olger

[cricket]

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The main factors that affected happiness were health provision, wealth and education,

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There is an inverse relationship as well: the main aspects of life that happiness affects are health provision, wealth and education.

Reminds me of the old Steve Martin (I think it was Steve Martin) line, "...maybe I feel so awfully good, because I look so awfully good. Or, maybe I look so awfully good, because I feel so awfully good!"

[Neil D]

Before I read any of the posts, I will answer this question

- And the HAPPIEST Place on earth is..

The answer is........

Disneyland.

Billed as the happiest place on earth....

[Dr. Shane]

I was thinking a cheesecake factory but maybe that is my sweet-tooth and perverted appetite for dairy products <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

[LynnDel]

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I was thinking a cheesecake factory but maybe that is my sweet-tooth and perverted appetite for dairy products

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Indeed.

<img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/icon_smile_sick.gif" alt="" />

[Stan]

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Gerry Cabalo said:

What do you expect? I could be mistaken, but couldn't sex & drugs be bought more easily in Denmark! <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/mittelgr124.gif" alt="" />

Gerry

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They might be... but the truth is.. they do not bring happiness in the long run....

[ChildofChrist]

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Following behind Denmark came Switzerland, Austria, Iceland and the Bahamas.

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When I visited there a few years back, I didn't find much evidence of most everyone (locals) there being 'happy'. Perhaps I wasn't looking in the right places. But I did drive through many communities. Yes, there were a lot of nice houses, but not many belonged to locals. And the poorer areas were worse off than many of our poorer sections of cities.

Maybe one of these days, I'll return for a visit and see if things have improved any.

[Dr. Shane]

The Adventist denomination is one of the largest there. Maybe they were talking to them <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Gerr]

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Stan Jensen said:

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Gerry Cabalo said:

What do you expect? I could be mistaken, but couldn't sex & drugs be bought more easily in Denmark! <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/mittelgr124.gif" alt="" />

Gerry

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They might be... but the truth is.. they do not bring happiness in the long run....

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[:"blue"] Ah, but most people are more interested in what makes one feel good and happy now. [/]

Gerry