Dr. Yomna Sameer of ADU Examines The Link Between Happiness and Sustainability
Dr. Yomna Sameer, Assistant Professor of Management at ADU and her colleagues from Abu Dhabi University, Zayed University and Coventry University, studied the connection between happiness and sustainability.
Dr. Yomna Sameer, Assistant Professor of Management at ADU and her colleagues from Abu Dhabi University, Zayed University and Coventry University, studied the connection between happiness and sustainability. Her research explored the question: “Are happier nations more responsible?”
The study looked at the happiness scores of 152 countries by taking a psychological approach on how happiness is linked to sustainability in addition to its reflection on the individual’s perception of quality of life and life satisfaction. During the study Dr. Yomna and the research team excluded the factors that could influence the results - such as country's wealth, government corruption and general social trust - they found that happier countries achieve their sustainability goals and recycle daily more than unhappier countries. The study suggests that the pursuit of happiness does not necessarily spell disaster for the environment.
While happiness is associated with higher consumption, it could also lead to more responsible behavior and greater attention to sustainability considerations. Happy nations consume more, but they also seem to be more responsible towards society and the environment. The research findings challenge the traditional perception related to happiness and sustainability and assumes they go separate ways. The results point to several social and political implications including the importance of happiness for responsible behavior.