Although you may find it hard to believe, as i do. Watching TV apparently does not make you happy!

Research shows that people who spend more time socialising, reading and participating in other activities are more likely to be happy whilst other people who watch 30 percent or more television, are unhappy.

A study comparing daily free time activities with perceptions of personal contentment, researchers found that television hours were elevated for people who described themselves as “not too happy.” On average, the report showed an extra 5.6 hours of tube time a week, compared with their happiest counterparts.

The study is not actually saying that television causes unhappiness, its authors insist, but rather that there is a link that is not yet understood.
“It could be that watching television for to long makes you unhappy, but there is also the question of whether people who are unhappy turn to television as a way to ward off their unhappiness,” said University of Maryland sociologist John P. Robinson.

The study, published in the December issue of the journal Social Indicators Research, is based on the General Social Survey, with public opinion data from nearly 40,000 people age between 18 to 64, as well as time-use diaries that detail how people spend their days.

It concluded that people enjoyed what they watched the previous evening but that those who watched television the longest did not feel as happy about their lives. “We were getting two different signals: In the short term, people could be happy watching TV, but in the long term, that could lead to something more negative,” Robinson said.

In all, however, the study found a happy majority. “Not too happy” people accounted for 11 percent of the total. 55 percent were “somewhat happy,” and 33 percent were “very happy.”
Whether this upbeat outlook will hold steady during the economic crash and resession thats going on remains to be seen.Television viewing goes up when working hours drop.

Researchers say that television hours have long amounted to “the 800-pound gorilla” when it comes to free time. On average, people have 35 to 40 hours a week of discretionary time and spend about 21 hours near the Television.

The study found that the happiest people estimated they tuned in to television about 18.9 hours a week. For the least happy, it was nearly 25 hours a week. The study controlled for differences in education, income, age, race, sex and marital status.

So what do people like doing? The study showed that when people were asked to rate activities from the previous day, unsurprisingly sex came out on top.

Followed by playing sports, playing and reading with the kids. The list continued with religious activities, sleep, meals out and socialising. TV was rated 12th on the list, although it was ahead of food shopping, work, looking after children and housework.

All i can add to these findings is that i watch TV all the time and even fall asleep doing it, and guess what? Im happy!

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