Spirituality key to children's happiness

(Staff)    According to a new study from the University of British Columbia, spirituality is a major contributor to children's overall happiness.

Mark Holder, Associate Professor of Psychology at UBC, said his study measured which factors make significant contributions to a child's happiness. Spirituality--defined as an "inner belief system"-- accounted for 6.5 to 16.5 percent of the average child's sense of contentment, he said.

That conclusion shocked Holder -- especially since money, the marital status of parents and the child's gender each registered less than one per cent.

"That's a huge effect in my field," he said. “I expected it to be much less – I thought their spirituality would be too immature to account for their well-being.”

"I was surprised that the effect is not only strong, but much stronger than what people showed as adults. I don't think we pay a lot of attention to the spirituality of children."

Previous research has shown spirituality accounts for four to five per cent of adults' happiness, said Holder.

The professor, along with graduate student Judi Wallace, tested 315 Okanagan children aged 9 to 12. They asked the children questions such as, "How often do you pray or meditate?" Holder stressed that spirituality embodied attitudes such as an awe of nature, connection to community and a belief in a higher power.

Holder said there were other major factors, such as genetics, that account for many of the child's innate characteristics. But “the contribution of money to happiness explains less than one per cent.” Holder wrote in UBC Reports that “Money does not actually predict happiness for adults or children (at least once you are above the poverty line).” The researchers also found that whether children attend public or private school has little impact on their happiness.

However, of the factors that were under a child's control, relationships with family and friends and leisure activities joined spirituality at the top of the list.

Wallace said that “spirituality is not religiosity, which is often more organized, and may be church-based.”

Children in the study rated statements such as “I feel a higher power’s presence,” and answered questions including “how often do you pray or meditate privately outside of church or other places of worship?” Parents were also asked to describe each child’s apparent happiness and spirituality, and teachers rated each child’s happiness level.

Holder and Wallace said spirituality produces a sense of meaning, it stimulates hope, reinforces positive social norms and can provide a social support network – all things that can improve a person’s well-being.

Holder noted that scientists have extensively researched negative emotions such as depression and anxiety but not positive ones such as happiness and joy. He wants to shift the balance.

He thinks children “could be asked to come up with three things they’re thankful for – different things each day. That greatly increases happiness,” he says. “Or students could list daily activities that contributed to the community, or teachers could have them look at what they do that makes a difference.”

Wallace said, “At the dinner table, we ask our own children to list all the good things that happened that day. It’s actually pretty easy to increase the happiness of your family.”