Happiness and health among U.S. working adults: is the association explained by socio-economic status?
One of the major contributors to a healthy life is happiness. When one is unhealthy, chances are they cannot be happy. The topic of research is a very relevant one since everyone wants to work towards a healthy life. An understanding about how to achieve a healthy life is important since a happy individual is a healthy individual and a healthy individual lives the good life that everyone strives to achieve. The socio-economic aspect is also known to be a major contributor to a healthy life but the scope of the study is a bit narrow since there are other factors that may lead to a good life even in the low socio-economic status, for example, a loving and caring family. The topic of the study majored on the working adults only and thus cannot be used on the non-working population thus it is not all-inclusive. The study is however relevant in the sense that it will help more researchers be in a position to gauge the need of further research into more benefits of happiness. Creating awareness on the sources of healthy life will help people understand the extent to which their socio-economic status can affect their happiness and consequently their health. The research findings can be used in developing further research on health of working population in other developed countries.
In order to get more accurate data on the socio-economic status of the working population in the United States the study uses several parameters including education and income level. The research question is relevant in the sense that it carries its research on the appropriate groups of individuals. The parameters used including the educational background and occupational prestige are good indicators of the socio-economic status of individuals (Kenzie 24). The research is carried out in an appropriate design since it captures the socio-economic variables such as employment in terms of these working permanently and those laid off. It also captures the different levels of education and marital status. However, the study maybe biased since it uses data from the general social survey, whose accuracy may not be verified. The study may have failed to capture the essence of happiness in some individuals due to their different personalities.
The study is conducted on the working population of United States, making it suitable for the section of population needed. There is no evidence of deviations from the original purpose of the study thus making it valid and relevant (Martin 120). The statistical analysis is justifiable since it is based on parameters that indicate the socio-economic status of a population. The analysis breaks down all the parameters and gives a clear indication that happiness is related to health in working population in the US. The data in the study justifies the conclusion, supporting the psychology literature that proposes the possibility of a link between happiness and self health. Furthermore the hypothesis is clearly stated and developed from the psychology literature review on health and happiness.
In conclusion, the study is relevant in many aspects but caution must be taken when using the data provided. The research does not provide for a possibility of bias that is likely to occur. The study brings about the need for further research on the aspect of happiness and human health in people with different demographic characteristics. The extent to which the socio-economic status affects happiness and consequently health in individuals creates awareness on the indicators of a good life.
Works Cited
Kenzie, James Mc. An introduction to community health. Sadbury: Sudbury, MA : Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2012.
Martin, Mike W. Happiness and the good life. New York: New York : Oxford University Press,, 2011.
