Three years ago, the Gallup organization released the results of a massive study on the link between religion and happiness, surveying 676,000 people.
The result? Mormons and Jews tied for first place, with a 69.4% “Well-Being Index Composite Score.”
Why do Mormons score consistently high in these studies? (See also hereand here.)
This past weekend at the International Positive Psychology meeting in Orlando, I met a researcher who recently finished a thesis on just this question. Elisa Hunter has a master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied with Marty Seligman, considered by many to be the founder of the field.
Here are 5 reasons that Hunter thinks Mormons may have a head start on happiness.
1. A pro-social orientation
“A lot of research suggests that Mormons are the most pro–social group in America."