Addressing Happiness in the United States of America through insights from Nordic countries on building trust, social cohesion, and comprehensive support.
In the Epidemic of Loneliness Light Paper, we delve into how the U.S. is in a crisis of individuals feeling isolated and disconnected. In March of 2024, the annual World Happiness Report paints a similar picture. The state of well-being in the U.S. has been on a downward trend, especially among its younger population. While older U.S. residents continue to report high levels of happiness, ranking within the top ten globally, young adults and adolescents are increasingly dissatisfied with life. This disparity raises essential questions about how we can better support younger generations to enhance their quality of life.
The World Happiness Report, released annually, provides a comprehensive overview of global happiness levels. It uses data from the Gallup World Poll’s life evaluations, where respondents rank their happiness on The Cantril Ladder. The Cantril Ladder measures self-reported life satisfaction by having an individual evaluate their life on a scale of 1 to 10. Historically, the U.S. has maintained a position within the top 20 happiest countries; however, recent reports indicate a decline. According to a Washington Post article, the U.S. has fallen from 15th to 23rd in the happiness rankings within a year, primarily due to the discontent among younger individuals (Click here to see the top twenty happiest countries according to this year’s report). NBC News commented this decline is due to many factors, including economic inequality between generations, political polarization, overuse of social media, and the harsh real estate market.
Considering these findings, it’s imperative to look towards countries consistently reporting high happiness levels across all age groups. Finland and other Nordic countries have been at the top of the World Happiness Report for years. Their success offers valuable insights into how the U.S. might improve the well-being of its younger population. The World Happiness Report in “The Nordic Exceptionalism: What Explains Why the Nordic Countries are Constantly Among the Happiest in the World” clarifies how no single explanation contributes to the state of happiness in Nordic countries. Nonetheless, it does highlight the key factors elevating happiness and quality of life:
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Trust in Community
Through the European Social Survey data, Helliwell et al. show that social trust is linked to national levels of subjective well-being and contributes to resiliency during national crises. Nordic countries show high levels of trusting their communities to support them and individuals to help each other. An article from the Nordic Co-Operation emphasizes how social trust is essential for good economies, lower levels of crime, and people taking responsibility for developing the societies they are a part of. The Aspen Institute established Weave: The Social Fabric Project, which works towards solving the problem of broken social trust “that has left U.S. residents divided, lonely, and in social gridlock.” Weave supports local leaders with resources, education, and community. Advocates and allies can join the Weaver Network, which consists of U.S. organizations working towards weaving trust in their communities. This initiative can assist us in incorporating the key Nordic value of social trust in the U.S. to elevate happiness.
Social Cohesion
The World Happiness Report uses Delhey and Draglov’s definition of social cohesion, which is defined by three dimensions, including connectedness to other people, having good social relations, and having a focus on the common good. An article from the Bertelsmann Foundation added that a cohesive society is characterized by resilient social relationships and a positive emotional connectedness between community members. Liz Mohn, the Vice Chairwoman of The Bertelsmann Foundation, said, “Social Cohesion is crucial for any society’s future and has a profound impact on a person’s perceived well-being. More cohesion equals more life satisfaction.”
An analysis done by Delhey and Draglov of 27 European Union Countries included the three Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. These three countries occupy the top three positions in their social cohesion index. Denmark, Finland, and Sweden also all occupy a top five spot in The World Happiness Report. Thomas Andersson comments on how social innovation contributes to social cohesion by responding to gaps in existing policy to boost general well-being. An example of this social innovation is in Sweden, called “The Dilemma Workshop.” Sweden is ethnically diverse, and it is understood that high levels of diversity can create intercultural misunderstandings. The International Labour Organizations explain how, in these workshops, participants analyze situations of intercultural conflict and learn how to overcome them. Cultural bridging is a crucial component of establishing social cohesion. Initiatives like Sweden’s “The Dilemma Workshop” can help strengthen community bonds.
Comprehensive and Extensive Social Support
Concrete support is an evidence-based strategy that is highly utilized in Nordic countries. The World Happiness Report states that Nordic countries are renowned for their welfare-state model, which provides extensive social benefits. These countries offer strong safety nets, including healthcare, education, and unemployment benefits, alleviating financial insecurity stressors. Deloitte Insights released a report on The Nordic Social Welfare Model, describing how the model provides a safety net while promoting equity and efficiency. The model is characterized by:
- High taxes and a large public sector.
- Broad universal services and substantial support, including healthcare, education, and social services.
- Productive investment in health, education, and job training.
- Strong work incentives and requirements.
The U.S. can adopt aspects of this evidence-based strategy, particularly increasing financial security and investing in public services, to enhance well-being while also building trust and social cohesion.
Nordic countries provide transferable knowledge and interventions the U.S. can learn from to create better conditions for all populations to thrive and feel fulfilled with their life. We understand the importance of building community trust, increasing social cohesion, and establishing comprehensive social support from the Nordic countries. As allies of family well-being, we can advocate for policies that mirror the success elements of Nordic Exceptionalism to improve the quality of life for younger populations. While these trends are concerning, the data also shows how younger populations are not alone in their struggle and how we need each other more than ever to mitigate unhappiness.
If you have any questions or comments about the content in this Lightbulb Moment, please get in touch with our Research Associate, Madeline Attianese, at mattianese@chsnc.org.
