Youth and Covid-19 Happiness Report Card Fall 2020
Youth is supposed to be the happiest time of life
Since we started gathering data with the Happiness Index in 2011, our data says otherwise.
During COVID-19, things have not improved.
Over the last two years, scores for satisfaction with life, sense of life being worthwhile, feeling happy and not feeling anxious have declined.
Satisfaction with life is a reflective measure that tells us overall how people feel about their lives. Sense that life is worthwhile gives us more clues. Sense of being happy or anxious is a more immediate measure.
On a scale of 0-100, youth and middle age people are just a little over indifferent about their satisfaction with their lives. Older people are not much better off.
The Imperial College London report Global Insights on Life Satisfaction Covid19 Behavior Tracker shows similar scores https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d59c0bdfff8290001f869d1/t/5f241685b2c8c87fe40240eb/1596200586114/Global-insights-on-life-satisfaction--COVID-19-behaviour-tracker.pdf
Download the report
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d59c0bdfff8290001f869d1/t/5f24168 5b2c8c87fe40240eb/1596200586114/Global-insights-on-life-satisfaction--COVID-19-behaviour-tracker.pdf
Our research shows that youth have a much lower risk of death from COVID19, about 0.025%. Youth have a higher chance of death from car accidents, homicide or suicide than COVID-19. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42413-020-00075-6
Download the Article
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42413-020-00075-6
Where does this lead us?
Fun is important.
Use your imagination to discover fun things to do. For young people in your life. For yourself.
Equations for Fun Absorption + Awe Challenge + Accomplishment Connection + Positivity Novelty + Self discovery
Connection is important. Foster love, non-judgement
and kindness in your relationships with family and friends. Choose a small circle of friends as pandemic buddies who choose you for their circle of and stay in you circle.* *It is important that expectations are clear about your circle and who people in it will spend time with, who they will not, how to manage new friends, and daily life exposures.
Ingredients for Connection Don’t take anything personally
Accept + Do not judge
Assume the best + Be curious (ask)
Do your best + Act from good intent
Culture matters Discover or rediscover your area’s heritage. Explore the culture & traditions of your family and ancestors & the cultures and traditions that seem so different. Learn the history that sparks your interest.
Invitations to Culture Be a tourist in your town or city. Reinstate past generation’s traditions: Sunday drives, weekly visits to a bakery, spend a day a week in pure leisure.
Learn a language. Take up dancing, singing, martial arts or other creative expression. Plan a dream trip (even if you expect never to take it) and learn about the culture, natural environment and heritage of your dream destination.
Who took the Happiness Index survey? People who chose to get their own self assessment of their well-being using the Happiness Index at happycounts.org
Number of Respondents 2018 Number of Respondents 2020
Age 12-39
Age 40-59
Age 60+
3000 4420
783 929
261 260
The Happiness Index is one of the many tools for happiness and wellbeing offered by the Happiness Alliance.
The Happiness Alliance provides tools, resources and knowledge for a new economic paradigm and personal happiness.
For attribution, please cite: Musikanski, L. (2020). Youth and Covid-19 Happiness Report Card Fall 2020. Happiness Alliance happycounts.org