The cure for happiness has been discovered. Scientists have just released the prescription.
- Research from the University of Otago shows that simpler living increases happiness
- Women are more likely to choose a less consumerist lifestyle than men.
- Voluntary simplicity can be the answer to excessive consumerism
Researchers from the University of Otago in New Zealand came to these conclusions after analyzing data collected from more than 1,000 New Zealanders with an average age of 45.
They found that engaging in a less consumptive, simpler lifestyle (referred to as "voluntary simplicity") leads to greater happiness because it provides more opportunities for personal interaction and social connection . Women are more likely to lead less consumptive lives than men, although more research is needed to better understand why, the authors noted.
The paper's co-author, Professor Rob Aitken, pointed out that the point isn't to get rid of all material possessions . In his view, it's not the pursuit of minimalism in terms of material possessions that directly translates to well-being, but the related satisfaction of psychological and emotional needs, which stems from relationships, social connections, community involvement, and the feeling of living a life full of purpose and meaning.
Leah Watkins, who took part in the study, emphasized that in consumer culture, happiness is associated with high income and the ability to acquire and accumulate material goods.
"However, research clearly indicates that a materialistic approach to life and the experiences associated with it do not lead to increased happiness or well-being. Nor do they lead to the sustainable consumption necessary for a healthy planet," the expert assessed.
According to data from 2000 to 2019, global domestic material consumption increased by 66%, tripling since the 1970s, to 95.1 billion tons. Growing consumer affluence and higher living standards have led to alarming trends in environmental destruction due to consumerist lifestyles.
"In a world where billionaire weddings are treated like state occasions and private yachts are the new status symbols, voluntary simplicity offers a quietly powerful counternarrative—one that values abundance over excess, connection over consumption, and meaning over materialism ," the researcher concluded.
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