Happiness for metropolis residents stems from morning paper and family, not theme parks and gadgets or money

On the European level, residents of the Greater Helsinki area seem pretty content with their lot

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A quiet morning, a cup of good coffee, and the daily paper. A short chat with the neighbour or a nice moment among the family.
      These are the factors which constitute the happiness of a resident in the Greater Helsinki area. No glitzy theme parks or their facilities are needed to make people happy.
     
Even in a busy metropolis, the residents can find small everyday things which make them content, indicates a new study that is being conducted by the Centre of Expertise on Social Welfare in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and commissioned by the cities in the Greater Helsinki area.
      The residents of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, and Kauniainen are averagely happy people: the mean value of the grades these people gave when questioned about their happiness was 8.2 on a scale from 0 to 10.
      At least in terms of the mean value, the residents in the Finnish metropolitan area are among the happiest people in Europe. In a study conducted in 2003 the average value calculated for the entire European Union was 7.6.
      ”Compared with other European countries, many basic values are here in good condition, and life is rather safe and stable”, reports researcher Saija Turunen.
      In the 2003 study, Finland’s mean value was 8.1. On the basis of that study, one cannot suggest that the population in the Greater Helsinki area is more content than people in other parts of the country, Turunen says. The 2003 study is rather old and the difference between the grades is too small.
     
The fact is that living in the capital region brings one many good things. For a start, various services near the home, good transport and other public services, as well as purchasing possibilities are all much appreciated.
      Helsinki and Vantaa residents are enthusiastic about the transport services that make moving in the region easy, while Espoo and Vantaa people appreciate the safety of their residential areas.
     
The welfare has been assessed in the study by asking the respondents dozens of questions. Nearly 4,000 residents in the Greater Helsinki area responded to the questions relating to their family and friends, physical condition, possibilities of physical exercise, and travelling as well as to their household finances.
     
Money brings no happiness, but the family is very significant when it comes to a person's contentment.
      Saija Turunen points out that the study was conducted prior to the autumn's financial crisis and the subsequent fears of recessionary times ahead. She thinks that the study should be conducted again in a couple of years.
     
The next stage of the study is to analyse the responses further. The results are to establish who are those who feel well or less well, and how the well-being is distributed in the Helsinki Metropolitan area.
      The final results of the study are due in January.
     
     
FACTFILE: The key to happiness is found in everyday life
     
Factors that increase contentment
      - Quiet time with the family
      - Children’s success in life
      - Walking the dog without having to hurry
      - Sitting in the yard reading a good book on a beautiful summer evening
      - A contact from a friend
      - Good home-cooked food and a sauna every day
      - A small word of thanks, a hand on the shoulder
      - Nature and excursions in the outdoors
     
Highlights of last year
      - Becoming a father
      - Start of a new more healthy life
      - Finding a life partner
      - The child’s enjoying pre-school
      - A trip to the destination of one's dreams
      - Excursions with friends in summer
     
Problems in the Greater Helsinki area
      - Cost of housing
      - Pollution
      - Cost of living
     
Factors that reduce well-being in everyday life
      - Haste and the everyday rush
      - Untidiness
      - Vandalism


Links:
  The Centre of Expertise on Social Welfare in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area

Helsingin Sanomat