In 2025, the United States is experiencing a troubling downward trend in its ranking on The World Happiness Report. This is a significant departure from its usual position within the top 20 globally. The exact causes are complex, but emerging evidence suggests that various psychosocial stressors are leading to a decrease in life satisfaction among US citizens, a trend that should concern us all.

Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with social psychologist and co-editor of The World Happiness Report, Lara Aknin, PhD, to explore what manifests as happiness and life satisfaction in the US and worldwide.

Dr. Lara Aknin shares specific findings from The World Happiness Report and provides valuable insights into the global cultural factors that contribute to life satisfaction. She particularly emphasizes the role of generosity, volunteerism, and donations as significant sources of happiness, shedding light on these often overlooked contributors to our well-being.

Lara Aknin, PhD. — World Happiness & Well-being: 

• The 2025 World Happiness Report reveals a drastic drop in life satisfaction for youth in much of the Western world. {2:05}
• Unpacking 2025 happiness rankings around the world. {7:54}
• Generosity toward others increases happiness and well-being. {10:30}
• Simple ways to get the ‘helper’s high’. {21:50} 

Meet Our Guest:

Lara Aknin, PhD, is a distinguished professor of social psychology at Simon Fraser University and a co-editor of The World Happiness Report. Her research interests lie at the intersection of social psychology, positive psychology, economics, and judgment and decision-making. 

Her research studies what makes people happy, the emotional consequences of kind or generous behavior, and the well-being outcomes of specific spending choices.

“Giving is the gift that keeps on giving.” - Lisa Cypers Kamen

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