The Relationship between Happiness and "Deadly Sins" among Middle-Aged Persons

Background: The contradictory results of studies on the relationship of happiness and well-being to norm-prohibitions make further work on this subject urgent. This topic is of particular relevance in connection with the current crisis of the value system.

Objective: Our research was devoted to the study of happiness, life satisfaction, and compliance with norm-prohibitions in middle-aged Russians. We hypothesized that happiness is associated not only with life satisfaction but also with the ability to resist temptations (such as what are known as "mortal sins"). The survey used six temptations: wrath, greed, envy, sloth, gluttony, and extra pride. Resistance to these "sins" represented adherence to "norm-prohibitions".

Design: The study involved 1,520 respondents (222 male and 1,298 female). The mean age of the participants was 40.37 ± 6.01 years. The socio-demographic questionnaire included items related to gender, age, marital status, number of children, level of education, and financial situation. Happiness, life satisfaction, and adherence to "norm-prohibitions" were measured on a 10-point scale.

Results: Happiness was associated with marital status, the number of children, and income per family member. It also correlated with life satisfaction, mostly in the area of relationships. Both men and women felt equally happy. The happiest people were less likely to manifest the "deadly sins" of wrath, greed, envy, and sloth. At the same time, happiness, calmness, and optimism were positively associated with pronounced gluttony and extra pride.

Conclusion: The results indicate that a significant contribution to happiness is made by the ability of a person to adhere to norm-prohibitions.