The actual title of the post is: Happier people watch less TV By Joel Hood • Chicago Tribune • November 21, 2008
If people can only realize the truth behind this article.
CHICAGO — Does this season of “Survivor” have you down in the dumps? Is “Dancing with the Stars” not doing it for you anymore?
Here’s some sobering news for couch potatoes: A 30-year study of television habits published in the December issue of scientific journal Social Indicators Research suggests that unhappy people watch considerably more TV, vote less, read fewer newspapers and are generally less socially active than happier people.
While some of that may not be breaking news, the study’s authors took particular interest in how happiness shaped TV viewing.
The University of Maryland researchers noted that TV is more popular than many other free-time activities, considering that viewers don’t have to leave the comfort of their homes, dress up, plan ahead or expend much energy at all. Perhaps it’s not surprising that TV takes up more than half of Americans’ free time.
The study indicated that unhappy people watch about 20% more television than very happy people, after factoring in their education, income, age and marital status.
What’s still unclear, researchers said, is whether watching TV is a symptom or a cause of unhappiness.
But while viewers said TV was enjoyable in the short run, they rated their overall satisfaction as low — meaning that even they recognized what a big waste of time it can be.
If people can only realize the truth behind this article.
CHICAGO — Does this season of “Survivor” have you down in the dumps? Is “Dancing with the Stars” not doing it for you anymore?
Here’s some sobering news for couch potatoes: A 30-year study of television habits published in the December issue of scientific journal Social Indicators Research suggests that unhappy people watch considerably more TV, vote less, read fewer newspapers and are generally less socially active than happier people.
While some of that may not be breaking news, the study’s authors took particular interest in how happiness shaped TV viewing.
The University of Maryland researchers noted that TV is more popular than many other free-time activities, considering that viewers don’t have to leave the comfort of their homes, dress up, plan ahead or expend much energy at all. Perhaps it’s not surprising that TV takes up more than half of Americans’ free time.
The study indicated that unhappy people watch about 20% more television than very happy people, after factoring in their education, income, age and marital status.
What’s still unclear, researchers said, is whether watching TV is a symptom or a cause of unhappiness.
But while viewers said TV was enjoyable in the short run, they rated their overall satisfaction as low — meaning that even they recognized what a big waste of time it can be.
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