The benefits of frequent positive affect: does happiness lead to success?
Numerous studies show that happy individuals are successful across multiple life domains, including marriage, friendship, income, work performance, and health. The authors suggest a conceptual model to account for these findings, arguing that the happiness-success link exists not only because success makes people happy, but also because positive affect engenders success. Three classes of evidence--crosssectional, longitudinal, and experimental--are documented to test their model. Relevant studies are described and their effect sizes combined meta-analytically. The results reveal that happiness is associated with and precedes numerous successful outcomes, as well as behaviors paralleling success. Furthermore, the evidence suggests that positive affect--the hallmark of well-being--may be the cause of many of the desirable characteristics, resources, and successes correlated with happiness. Limitations, empirical issues, and important future research questions are discussed.
Lyubomirsky
Sonja
S
Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA. sonja@citrus.ucr.edu
King
Laura
L
Diener
Ed
E
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006240:Happiness; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009341:Negativism; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D013997:Time Factors