IS “HAPPINESS” UNIVERSALLY MEASURABLE? A LIFESPAN CRITIQUE OF AGE-SPECIFIC DEFINITIONS AND METHODOLOGICAL FLAWS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14456/tmsr.2025.3Keywords:
Happiness Measurement Critique, Lifespan Happiness, Age-Specific Well-being, Psychometric Invariance, Public Well-being PolicyAbstract
This paper critically examines the prevalent assumption that 'happiness' can be universally measured and compared across all age groups, revealing significant methodological flaws in 21st-century empirical literature. We synthesize diverse findings to demonstrate that happiness is not a monolithic construct but a dynamic, age-specific phenomenon. For children, positive affect from play is central; adulthood integrates affect, behavior, and cognition, focusing on goal attainment and meaning; while old age emphasizes acceptance, meaningful connections, and inner peace. A key critique highlights that current universal happiness measurement tools, unadapted to these fundamental lifespan nuances, yield not only misleading conclusions but also ineffective public policies. Such approaches, akin to assessing apples with orange criteria, overlook the profound influence of age and cultural context on perceptions of well-being, as evidenced by cross-cultural measurement issues. This study advocates for nuanced, age- and culture-specific research methodologies, including mixed-methods and longitudinal designs, to foster a deeper, more accurate understanding of happiness. Ultimately, this approach is crucial for developing truly effective, sustainable, and equitable well-being policies that honor the diverse, evolving realities of human experience across the lifespan.
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