Money, success and achievement are often seen as the keys to happiness, but a new study with a B.C. connection suggests relationships matter more than you may think. Lara Aknin, a social psychology professor at Simon Fraser University, co-authored a paper that asked leading well-being researchers about the lessons they’ve applied in their own lives. “One of the key pieces we saw through our own eyes and things we heard as this conversation emerged was just the importance of social relationships,” Aknin told CTV News Vancouver. “Having relationships is one of the most reliable predictors of happiness that has emerged from a robust body of evidence spanning the social sciences.” She noted that the 12 positive psychology pioneers interviewed have collectively conducted over 600 years of research. Aknin also co-edits the annual World Happiness Report, which saw Canada’s ranking slip seven spots to 25th in 2026. “That’s likely due to the relative unhappiness of younger adults in Canada,” Aknin explained. She says this demographic reports lower levels of connections, belonging and optimism about where their life is heading in comparison to previous generations. Meanwhile, adults over the age of 65 reporter the highest levels of satisfaction, which Aknin says may be linked to this group having more stable incomes and resources, as well as more time to prioritize relationships. “I think the importance of social relationships seems to remain true across the age spectrum,” Aknin said. “Having at least one person to count on in times of need is one of the strongest predictors of happiness around the globe.” She stressed that well-being is a journey—not a destination—as happiness is not a constant state of being or reserved for optimistic people with ideal lives. “Instead, it can be developed through conscious choices, self-awareness and adaptation, even when life gets hard,” Aknin said. She points to research suggesting roughly 10 per cent of happiness is linked to life circumstances like where you live, your age, your employment or relationship status. Meanwhile, 40 per cent of happiness is related to “volitional activities,” or how you choose to spend your time. “That leaves a lot of opportunity for people who may be more innately pessimistic to start practising research-backed strategies like meditation or gratitude that might help them see the world in a more positive way,” said Aknin. She adds that the experts interviewed for the new paper shared a common goal: ensuring their findings can be put into practice to improve people’s lives. Aknin says that matters because happiness is linked to a range of positive outcomes, including a greater willingness to help others and engage in community. “When people feel they are doing well, they have the ability, the capability, and the motivation to engage in world affairs—to take care of the people they love and take care of their communities,” Aknin said.
