ORLANDO, Fla – The World Happiness Report is out for 2024. For the seventh year in a row, Finland was number one. But there was some bad news for the United States. It dropped several spots this year.
The U.S. ranks 23rd in the latest World Happiness Report. That’s a drop from 15th last year.
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While Americans 60 and older report high levels of happiness there was a sharp decline for ages 30 and under.
Experts say there is widespread concern about an emerging epidemic of loneliness. The National Library of Medicine says social media could be fueling these lonely feelings.
“When people are more, are more prone to being bored, they’re going to be more likely to use their smartphone to address their uncertainty,” said Alex J. Holte, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College.
Smartphone use has been shown to have a negative impact on happiness and well-being. USA Today reports people check their phones one hundred and 44 times a day!
A study by Purdue University found social media creates a fear of missing out, which can increase anxiety in younger people. Comparisons to others can trigger negative feelings. Unrealistic standards can lower self-esteem, and all of this can lead to depression.
Experts say reducing time on social media could be the key to increasing happiness, especially among the younger population.
Exercising can also make you happier.
A peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Happiness found that a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise per week can dramatically increase a person’s mood. Researchers at the University of Michigan found that it was not one particular type of exercise, but just exercising in general, that helped to make people feel happier.