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A Cross-cultural Study On the Association Between Societal Conditions and the Idealization of Happiness

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaobin Lou

    (University of Georgia)

  • Brian W. Haas

    (University of Georgia)

  • John M. Zelenski

    (Carleton University)

  • Cai Xing

    (Renmin University of China)

  • Vivian L. Vignoles

    (University of Sussex)

  • Christin-Melanie Vauclair

    (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), CIS-IUL)

  • Wijnand A. P. Tilburg

    (University of Essex)

  • Yukiko Uchida

    (Kyoto University)

  • Julien Teyssier

    (Université Toulouse II)

  • Claudio Torres

    (University of Brasilia)

  • Chien-Ru Sun

    (National Chengchi University)

  • Stanislava Stoyanova

    (South-West University “Neofit Rilski”)

  • Maria Stogianni

    (Tilburg University)

  • Iva Poláčková Šolcová

    (Czech Academy of Sciences)

  • David Sirlopú

    (Universidad San Sebastián)

  • Ursula Serdarevich

    (Universidad Nacional de La Matanza)

  • Heyla A. Selim

    (King Saud University)

  • Ruta Sargautyte

    (Vilnius University)

  • Espen Røysamb

    (University of Oslo)

  • Vladyslav Romashov

    (Polish Academy of Sciences)

  • Muhammad Rizwan

    (The Delve Pvt Ltd)

  • Zoran Pavlovid

    (University of Belgrade)

  • Vassilis Pavlopoulos

    (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)

  • Joonha Park

    (Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University)

  • Yvette Osch

    (Tilburg University)

  • Ayu Okvitawanli

    (Universitas Sebelas Maret)

  • Azar Nadi

    (Polish Academy of Sciences)

  • Martin Nader

    (Universidad ICESI)

  • Nur Fariza Mustaffa

    (International Islamic University Malaysia)

  • Elke Murdock

    (University of Luxembourg)

  • Oriana Mosca

    (University of Roma Tre)

  • Tamara Mohoric

    (University of Rijeka)

  • Pablo Eduardo Barrientos Marroquin

    (Universidad del Valle de Guatemala)

  • Fridanna Maricchiolo

    (University of Roma Tre)

  • Arina Malyonova

    (Dostoevsky Omsk State University)

  • Magdalena Łużniak-Piecha

    (SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities)

  • Vivian Miu-Chi Lun

    (Lingnan University)

  • Xinhui Liu

    (Renmin University of China)

  • Liman Man Wai Li

    (The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po)

  • J. Hannah Lee

    (Indiana University Northwest)

  • Anna Kwiatkowska

    (Polish Academy of Sciences)

  • Nicole Kronberger

    (Johannes Kepler University Linz)

  • Olga Kostoula

    (Johannes Kepler University Linz)

  • Aleksandra Kosiarczyk

    (SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities)

  • Agata Kocimska-Zych

    (SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities)

  • Lucie Klůzová Kračmárová

    (Palacký University)

  • Natalia Kascakova

    (Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University
    Psychiatric Clinic Pro Mente Sana)

  • İdil Işık

    (Istanbul Bilgi University)

  • Eric Raymond Igou

    (University of Limerick)

  • David O. Igbokwe

    (Baze University Abuja, Federal Capital Territory)

  • Diana Boer

    (University of Koblenz)

  • Alin Gavreliuc

    (West University of Timisoara)

  • Ragna B. Garðarsdóttir

    (University of Iceland)

  • Vladimer Gamsakhurdia

    (Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University)

  • Márta Fülöp

    (Research Centre of Natural Sciences and Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary)

  • Carla Sofia Esteves

    (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), CIS-IUL)

  • Alejandra Dominguez-Espinosa

    (Iberoamerican University)

  • Patrick Denoux

    (Université Toulouse II)

  • Michael Harris Bond

    (Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Arno Baltin

    (Tallinn University)

  • Douglas Arevalo

    (Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas)

  • Lily Appoh

    (Nord University)

  • Isabelle Albert

    (University of Luxembourg)

  • Charity S. Akotia

    (University of Ghana)

  • Mladen Adamovic

    (King’s College London)

  • Kuba Krys

    (Polish Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Although most people aspire to be happy, the extent to which people pursue or idealize experiencing high levels of happiness does differ according to sociocultural context. This study was designed to elucidate which societal and cultural indicators are the most conducive to fostering high levels of happiness idealization. To accomplish this goal, we measured levels of happiness idealization for 11,170 participants residing in 43 different countries. We utilized machine learning (random forests approach) to examine how well an array of 18 different societal and cultural-level indicators were associated with country-level happiness idealization. We found robust and consistent evidence that greater cultural religiosity was associated with reduced idealization of happiness across four different types of happiness, including life satisfaction and interdependent happiness. These findings demonstrated that how much happiness is pursued varies considerably according to sociocultural context and highlights the role of cultural religiosity in shaping how people think about high levels of happiness.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaobin Lou & Brian W. Haas & John M. Zelenski & Cai Xing & Vivian L. Vignoles & Christin-Melanie Vauclair & Wijnand A. P. Tilburg & Yukiko Uchida & Julien Teyssier & Claudio Torres & Chien-Ru Sun & S, 2025. "A Cross-cultural Study On the Association Between Societal Conditions and the Idealization of Happiness," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 20(3), pages 1289-1313, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:20:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s11482-025-10462-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-025-10462-w
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