You're Less Likely to Be Happy Once You Start Making More Than This Amount, Studies SayMoney doesn't make you a more generous person or buy more happiness, according to researchers.

ByJustin ChanOriginally published

shironosov | Getty Images

Earning more money doesn't guarantee that you'll be more empathetic or considerate, a study published last week by theAmerican Psychological Association (APA)notes.

In a survey of more than 1.6 million people from 162 countries, researchers from Singapore and the U.S. concluded that, although those with higher incomes were likely to feel more confident and less timid than low-income earners, members of the former group weren't exactly more loving.

"Having more money doesn't necessarily make a person more compassionate and grateful, and greater wealth may not contribute to building a more caring and tolerant society," lead researcher Eddie Tong, an associate professor of psychology at the National University of Singapore,told the APA.

Related:20 Secrets to Living a Happier Life

The report further reveals that high earners often had more positive "self-regard emotions," such as pride and determination. Those with lower incomes, on other hand, experienced the exact opposite, with emotions ranging from sadness to shame.

In essence, having more money appears to have a positive impact on one's "emotional well-being" — as Tong pointed out — but there is no consistent link between income level and how people feel about each other. The professor also added that his team's findings were correlational, making it difficult to prove whether higher income actually leads to positive emotions, or if there is simply a connection between them.

"Policies aimed at raising the income of the average person and boosting the economy may contribute to emotional well-being for individuals," he said. "However, it may not necessarily contribute to emotional experiences that are important for communal harmony."

And despite the fact that there may be some truth behind money's impact on happiness, at least one 2010 study from Princeton University asserts thatmore money doesn't necessarily equate to more happiness— especially once you start making over $75,000. According to the report's authors, having a high income might positively influence how you feel about your overall life trajectory, but it has little control over how you perceive your day-to-day.

Wavy Line
Justin Chan

Entrepreneur Staff

News Writer

Justin Chan is a news writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, he was a trending news editor at Verizon Media, where he covered entrepreneurship, lifestyle, pop culture, and tech. He was also an assistant web editor atArchitectural Record, where he wrote on architecture, travel, and design. Chan has additionally written forForbes,Reader's Digest,Time Out New York,HuffPost,Complex, andMic. He is a 2013 graduate of Columbia Journalism School, where he studied magazine journalism. Follow him on Twitter at@jchan1109.

Editor's Pick

We're Now Finding Out TheDamaging Results of The Mandated Return to Office— And It's Worse Than We Thought.
He 'Grew Up in Bars' and Was Drinking By Age 10 — But Entrepreneurs Changed His Life. Now a Business Owner Himself,He's Paying It Forward.
LinkedIn Changed Its Algorithms — Here's How YourPosts Will Get More Attention Now
'Focus Is Just as Important as Passion': How to Avoid狗万官方企业家精神缺失症in Franchising
Lock
Kevin O'Leary Recommends This6-Step Strategyfor Making Money on Social Media
Lock
ThisMindset Shift Changed My Life— And Gave Me the Courage to Leave My Well-Paid Full-Time Job.

Related Topics

Career

The Top 12 Best Jobs and Careers for Introverts

Want a career that leaves you fulfilled and doesn't take up too much social energy? Check out this breakdown of the best jobs for introverts.

Business News

Report: Vanna White Hasn't Received a Pay Raise in 18 Years, Will Walk if Not Offered $4.5 Million More for 'Wheel of Fortune'

The news follows longtime host Pat Sajak's decision to retire after this season.

Health & Wellness

Doctor Makes Millions Performing Bizarre Implant Surgery

On this episode of 'Dirty Money,' we get to know a doctor who became very wealthy via a very suspect medical procedure.

Legal

Ghislaine Maxwell Is Called 'Prison Karen' for Filing 400 Complaints Behind Bars

According to a British newspaper, Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficker is causing problems for the guards and inmates at her Florida prison.

Business Ideas

55 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2023

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2023.