Dear Editor,
In reviewing the World Happiness Report, it appears some of the report’s findings have been erroneously conveyed. Contrary to what was reported, individuals under 30 in Ireland, indeed, rate their life satisfaction at the highest, not the lowest.
The error seems to lie in the confusion between global rankings of Irish youth happiness and their actual scores. Also, the assertion that people aged 45 to 59 encapsulate the happiest demographic is misguided; they are actually the unhappiest, notwithstanding their general contentment. It bears mentioning that happiness in Ireland often reflects the common U-shape pattern prevalent in most developed economies; there’s a tendency for happiness to peak during youth and old age, with a dip during mid-life when work, leisure, family, and financial challenges peak.
Moreover, the explanation that measurements of happiness are deduced from assessing the per capita income, healthy life expectancy, among other things is misleading. The rankings hinge entirely on individuals’ responses to the question of how they perceive their lives relative to their ideal life.
A more pertinent narrative would be Ireland’s steady reduction in happiness since 2019, notwithstanding its significant economic achievements. The rising cost of living and lack of housing have likely led to an escalating number of people feeling that the ‘best possible life’ is unattainable, thus infringing on personal freedoms. These are critical elements in determining a nation’s happiness levels.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Mark Henry,
Technological University Dublin,
Grangegorman,
Dublin 7.