Happiness: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Tiffany Field

Surprisingly, only two effects of happiness were the topic of studies in this current literature including well-being and happiness at work. Happiness has surprisingly rarely occurred as a research topic in this current literature. Most of the studies have been focused on predictors including demographic variables and attitudes. The demographic variables include older age, higher education, greater income, greater social capital and closeness to family and friends. The attitudes include leisure attitude, inquisitiveness, moral values, life satisfaction and uncertainty. Only one potential underlying biological mechanism for happiness could be found in this current literature. In an fMRI study happiness was correlated with activation of the limbic- thalamic -cortical pathway. Several methodological limitations can be cited for this literature including a limited number of studies on happiness, design problems, and the almost exclusive focus on predictor variables. The current literature on happiness is also lacking studies on the effects of happiness as well as the risks for losing happiness.