It is a question that has troubled philosophers, scholars and scientists for thousands of years.
But now, researchers may be close to finding the true secret of happiness.
More than 1,000 scientists from more than 70 countries have come together to lead the largest happiness study ever attempted.
About 30,000 people from around the world have been recruited to take part in the ‘Global Happiness Megastudy’.
Everyone is given a short, daily ‘happiness routine’ from doing a quick yoga session to making time to call a family member.
By recruiting people from different regions and countries, the researchers hope to discover other things that can reveal the secret of what makes people happy.
Professor Elizabeth Dunn, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia who is working on the research, said: ‘Our aim is for this to be the largest, most comprehensive, cross-sectional study of happiness ever undertaken.
‘If we find things that work around the world, or that are effective in other places, and find out where those places are, or what kind of people benefit, it will be a huge leap in the science of happiness.’
Scientists may be on the verge of discovering the secret to happiness as they prepare to launch the largest research of its kind ever attempted (stock photo)
Last year, more than 1,000 scientists submitted their ideas on what the research should focus on.
Those ideas have now been reduced to just 24 strategies that are divided into seven different categories.
Each student will be assigned to a control group that will take the same action as before, or a group that receives one of these measures.
These are designed to take no more than 25 minutes a day, require no special equipment, and are completed in the home.
These treatments include daily exercise such as yoga or intensive training and behavioral changes such as calling a loved one or talking to an AI chatbot.
Lead researcher Dr Barnabás Szászi, of Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, said The Guardian: ‘All this can be done at home, people don’t want someone to look after them or help them. That was our very conscious decision.’
By recording a self-report survey of happiness from each of the students as they make these changes, the researchers hope to see what makes the difference in someone’s happiness.
But what makes this study different from previous research is the size and difference in sample size.
Previous studies such as the World Happiness Report (pictured) have taken into account how people perceive their happiness, as well as economic and social factors. What makes this study different is that it uses methods designed to look at what contributes to happiness around the world.
Each of the 30,000 participants will be given a short, daily ‘fun routine’ that ranges from high-intensity exercise to 20-minute phone calls with family members (stock photo)
Experts say that this previous studies often focus on countries that are ‘WEIRD’: White, educated, prosperous, wealthy, and democratic.
However, when it comes to happiness, what brings a smile to someone from Manchester or New York may not work for someone from Mombasa or New Delhi.
By expanding their population to include people from as many different backgrounds as possible, the researchers hope to capture what happens to someone no matter where they live.
Professor Dunn says: ‘What will we end up with? We will have a very large and diverse group assembled in ways that promote happiness.
How effective are these methods? Do they work anywhere? Do some things work best for a small group of people and difficult for many others?’
Already, various happiness studies are helping scientists understand the secrets of happiness.
Earlier this year, researchers from Barcelona and Canada surveyed 2,966 people from communities in 19 countries around the world.
Their results showed that the people in these newly born communities showed surprisingly high levels of happiness despite living in poverty.
A previous study of small regions around the world (pictured) found that money may not be as important to happiness as it is thought to be, as these regions are among the happiest in the world.
A previous study of 2,966 people from 19 countries around the world found that people were happier despite having less money.
Economic growth and household income growth it has been seen as a way to improve people’s lives – and international research has shown that people in high-income countries tend to report higher levels of happiness than people in poorer countries.
However, this evidence may challenge the idea that a higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is a monetary measure of the value of the goods a country produces each year, is a reliable measure of happiness.
In fact, researchers suggest that factors such as connections with nature and social networks may be more important than physical wealth.
If their research is successful, the Global Happiness Megastudy could provide much-needed insight into affordable, reliable ways to improve people’s lives.
With the important work now complete, Professor Dunn, Dr Szászi and their fellow researchers are looking for funding to take the project to the next step.
According to their plans, a report detailing their proposed methods will be published in a major academic journal and the actual research will begin soon.
