A research group from Germany analyzed data from 26 thousand people from 26 European countries, comparing their income levels, health status, and geographical proximity to various types of wildlife. The result was unexpected, writes Euronews.
Photo: vecteezy.com
Birdsong has a huge impact on people's psyche. According to new research, the diversity of birds and their chirping affect life satisfaction no less than a higher income.
The more birds chirp and the greater the diversity of bird species in the environment, the happier and more satisfied people are. This conclusion was reached by a German research group.
For the study, scientists linked biodiversity data with data on life satisfaction and income. Their database contained information on 26,000 people from 26 European countries.
Result: people are happier where there are more bird species. For example, in a region with ten percent more bird species, people are happier, the study showed. However, the difference is less noticeable with a ten percent increase in income.
Birds, Money, and Happiness: How to Determine the Link
The European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) is conducted every four years. 26,000 Europeans answer questions on demographic and socio-economic topics. For example, income, marital status, education level, area of residence, and health status are recorded.
On the other hand, data on biodiversity and other natural and climatic factors are needed. Geodata, such as species distribution maps and satellite images, were used here. Various natural factors were compared with each other.
The correlation was checked not only between life satisfaction and bird diversity but also with the species richness of mammals, trees, and other natural objects. The result was negative: a significant correlation was observed only with bird species diversity.
However, according to the researchers, another connection may exist: birds are also considered an indicator of the state of the environment — another factor influencing well-being. Where a great diversity of birds lives, natural and diverse landscapes are usually nearby.
«According to our findings, the happiest Europeans are those who can observe many different bird species in their daily lives or live in a natural environment where many species reside,» explained the lead author of the study, Joel Methorst from the Senckenberg Research Institute.
What Birdsong Says About Life Satisfaction
«We also studied the socio-economic data of the surveyed people and, to our great surprise, found that bird diversity is just as important for their life satisfaction as their income,» explains Professor Katrin Böhning-Gaese, director of the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre.
Thus, fourteen additional bird species in the neighborhood would increase life satisfaction no less than an additional 124 euros per month in a household's account, based on an average income of 1,237 euros per month across all 26 European countries.
Comments
И горсть антидепрессантов каждый день. Тоже способствует счастью.