New survey shows: Swiss are happier than thought

class = “sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

How happy are the Swiss? Marketing agency Marketagent explored this question in its happiness report published today. To that end, the agency surveyed more than 1,000 people via an online survey over two weeks.

The surprising result: According to their own words, the Swiss are happier than they think: While only 6 percent think that the Swiss are “very happy” in general, 17 percent, or almost a fifth, say they consider themselves “very happy.” Castle. What’s interesting is that, unlike French-speaking Swiss, more German-speaking Swiss (19 percent overall) consider themselves lucky: only 11 percent here describe themselves as “very happy” – just over one in ten. .

Overall, there is also a positive picture when looking at the Swiss’s sense of happiness: on a scale from zero (not happy) to ten (very happy), about a fifth report a rather weak sense of happiness (the average value is zero to five). About 80 percent consider themselves somewhat happy or very happy (an average of six to ten).

I’m satisfied but depression is increasing

This contradicts last year’s report by Obsan, the Swiss Health Observatory. It also assumes that about 60 percent of Swiss people are generally satisfied with their lives. But psychiatric costs have been rising since 2006; From 1.4 billion francs due to compulsory health insurance in 2006 to approximately 2.4 billion francs in 2022.

Depression and anxiety disorders have increased, especially among young women and girls. Approximately two-thirds of young women ages 15 to 24 show mild to severe depressive symptoms. Rates of illness and hospitalization for psychological and psychiatric reasons have also increased in adults.

According to research by Marketagent, the Swiss are happiest at older ages: satisfaction increases from the age of 60. Then, one in four people describe themselves as “very happy”. This is despite the fact that most Swiss people (almost 40 percent) think that they are happiest between the ages of 20 and 40.

The best antidepressant: relationships!

While this current study represents a snapshot in time, a long-term study spanning an 80-year period, completed and published last year at Harvard University (USA), was able to determine quite precisely what actually constitutes a happy life. .

Apart from factors such as health, social recognition and sufficient money, these are primarily personal relationships. By this the researchers mean primarily couple relationships, but also relationships with family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and neighbors.

Even chance encounters can sustainably boost well-being, according to researchers who summarized the results of the study in the book “The Good Life” last year. They openly recommend that you exercise your “social muscles” to be happier. So: get in touch with friends, arrange meetings, make new contacts through clubs or interests. Even a compliment you give to a stranger on the street has a positive impact on your own health.

Source : Blick