A simple life can really bring greater happiness, but for unexpected reasons

Outago, New Zealand – Forget the organized Marie Condo cabinets. A new research reveals that people who adopt a simple life may feel better not only because they have less property, however The most powerful Because they build larger societies and share more with their neighbors.

Researchers at the University of Outago in New Zealand surveyed 1,643 people and found that the “beneficial” dimension was Voluntary simplicity Activities such as sharing the fruits of an individual with others outside the direct family, made an effort to build a community, and share skills and work-showed the strongest direct relationship with well-being. While having less part of the voluntary simplicity lifestyle, it still indirectly contributes through the general style of simple living behaviors.

The results indicate that the consumer culture promised that buying more leads to content Support happiness.

Voluntary simplicity means a deliberate choice of consumption with a focus on relationships, personal growth and experiences instead of property. People who practice this lifestyle may grow their food, buy local producers, repair items instead of replacing them, and sharing resources with neighbors.

When the researchers studied what are the specific behaviors that were directly related to luxury, the material simplicity (possession of less things) was not important direct The forecaster in their models. The same was true in preserving resources and producing one’s food. However, all these things still contribute to the degree of comprehensive voluntary simplicity, which were positively related to luxury.

The prominent factor of interest, or sharing the fruits of an individual with others outside the direct family, was the effort to participate in society and share skills and employment with others, even when they were not at work. This distance, which focuses on society, showed the strongest direct relationship with both psychological well -being and satisfaction with life.

People who adopted Simple Living also reported a higher satisfaction in achieving life and societal communication, and significant and marginal improvements in personal relationships, health and living levels. The study did not find any great connection with safety or future security. In general, it was the social aspect, instead of just reducing property, which has strengthened more clearly luxury.

How the researchers studied living and simple happiness

The research team has wiped a representative sample of New Zealand: 51 percent of men and 49 percent of women, with an average age of 45 years and average family income of $ 50,000. Participants answered questions about their association with voluntary simplicity behaviors across six areas: the simplicity of materials, resource preservation, local purchase, self -sufficient food production, community participation, and balance between work.

Scientists measured two distinguished types of well -being: The luxury of a doctrine Which includes the consent of life, personal luxury, happiness-and Eudaimonic luxury (Psychological prosperity and personal development). They divided the sample into half of the analysis: the first group was used to determine the patterns, and the second to confirm the results. Use the luxury relationship analysis 854 participants, and use of moderation between the sexual moderation 847.

In the final scale, all elements of the four “preferences of work and life” were excluded because they do not apply to many people who do not work, such as retirees. This means that the general population version of the scale focuses on five basic components: interest, material simplicity, self -sufficiency, local purchases, and resource preservation.

Women benefit more than men from a simple living

Sex played a sudden role in the results. Women who have practiced voluntary simplicity have faced stronger positive effects on luxury compared to men, for both luxury pleasure and score. The study found a major influence for females but not for males, which means that the benefits of lifestyle luxury were clear in women but less than that in men.

Previous studies have found that women are more likely to embrace a simple living than men, although this is the first search for sex test as an Eudaimonic well -being. Scientists still do not fully understand the reason for the existence of this difference.

The age did not extend to a large extent the relationship, and the income showed a negative direction of moderation, which was not statistically significant at the level of 10 %. This means that the benefits of voluntary simplicity were seen across the income levels.

What does this mean for your daily life

Instead of focusing only on property decline, people interested in the luxury benefits of simple living may consider joining community gardens, participating in tool libraries, organizing neighborhood skills sharing groups, or buying from local producers. These activities naturally create social communications, and it is the most luxurious luxury of the study.

The results indicate that cooperative consumption (participation, borrowing and resource exchange) can support both social communication and personal well -being. For policy makers and societies, initiatives that facilitate people to share resources may be of special value in supporting luxury and sustainable life.

The study focused on New Zealand residents and the relations between behaviors instead of proving the direct cause and the result. The authors also noticed that the voluntary simplicity exists on the spectrum, and there are differences between those who choose this lifestyle and those who simply live due to economic necessity.

Despite these restrictions, the research introduces a new look at both consumer culture and simplicity. It seems that the road to luxury through a simple living works vigorously through community communications instead of empty tanks. Not only do people need less things to be happy – they need more feasible contacts with their societies.

Slip: This article is a summary of the research published in the Grand Marketing Journal. This is intended for public media purposes and does not replace professional advice. The study measured the relationships between lifestyle and luxury behaviors; It does not prove that simple life directly causes improved luxury. The results are based on New Zealand and may not be circulated to all the population.