Tall People Live Happier Lives

Tall People Live Happier Lives


Tall people – it would appear – live happier lives.  Researchers at Princeton University studied the heights and lives of more than 454,000 adults and discovered that taller individuals reported higher levels of enjoyment and happiness in their lives.

The researchers used something called a ‘self-measuring striving scale’ which depicts a ladder with rungs numbered 0-10.  10 represents the ‘best possible life’.  0 represents ‘worst possible life’. 

Men above 5’ 10” reported higher life satisfaction scores than men below.  Women above 5’ 4” reported higher scores.   Not only did taller men and women report higher levels of happiness, they also reported less pain and sadness.
So what explains these findings? 

The researchers say the results can be almost entirely explained by the positive association between height and both income and education.  No surprise that these are – in turn – linked to better life experiences.

Writing in Marie Claire, chartered psychologist Dr. Colin Gill said:

‘There's no direct correlation between income and happiness - surveys going back years show that. But there does appear to be a correlation between height and happiness and height and income.’. 

More Info

Article:  Tall People ‘Lead Happier Lives’  (Marie Claire)