Researchers unlock secret to a happy & fulfilling life
New research reveals young Australian adults largely base their happiness on whether they have positive and healthy relationships and meaningful and secure work.
A report by the Youth Research Collective found when it comes to life satisfaction, there are other key contributors, including positive outlooks as well as the ability to appreciate one’s situation whilst acknowledging the role of luck and hard work.
22 Australians aged between 33 and 34 took part in the 2023 study, which explored young adults’ views on the determinants of life satisfaction and happiness.
The participants were chosen among a larger cohort of young Australians based on their reporting of a consistently high level of life satisfaction between 2018-2022 in the annual surveys of the Life Patterns research program.
The findings underscore just how vital prosocial behaviour and social connections are to an individuals' overall well-being.
Co-author Dr Qunetin Maire said, “after completing school in 2005-06, this group of participants has been building lives through engagement with tertiary education and work for over 15 years. They have had the resources and support to seize opportunities to lead satisfying lives. Their views about what makes a happy life provide valuable insights into key factors associated with social fulfilment for the Australian generation often referred in popular terms as Gen Y or ‘millennials’.”
The following provides a summary of the four major contributors to life satisfaction discussed by participants:
- Positive Relationships: Strong bonds with partners, family, colleagues, and friends provide emotional support and security, fostering happiness and resilience in times of uncertainty.
- Meaningful Work: Finding purpose and fulfillment in one's work, being able to build a career, working in supportive environments and being able to achieve a healthy work-life balance.
- Attitudes Towards Life: Embracing a forward-thinking and adaptable mindset, characterised by gratitude and appreciation for one’s life journey.
- Luck and Effort: Balancing the role of luck with personal effort in shaping one's circumstances underscores the importance of holistic well-being, including financial security, education, and social connections.
Co-author Dr Eric Fu said, “the report highlights the growing importance of both personal and structural support networks in empowering young adults to construct lives that are subjectively meaningful and fulfilling. It sheds light on the aspects of life most valued by Gen Y Australians and can be used as an important point of reference when developing social and economic policies to support young people and young adults.”
Life Patterns gathers data on how three generations of Australians navigate our rapidly changing world. The data from the program has helped researchers understand what has happened to young people since they left school - where they have been, what their hopes and aspirations are for the future, and how they engage with shifting socioeconomic circumstances. The research is ongoing, with new data currently being collected as part of the 2024 survey.
You can access the report through the link.