Subjective happiness
It turns out that we feel good in our own home and the degree of this satisfaction is increasing. Although in recent years we have experienced many factors that may affect our well-being – for example, the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, a sharp increase in prices or increases in interest rates, which increased the costs of housing loans – we declare our well-being. The Otodom report “” draws attention to the subjective sense of happiness declared by respondents. On a 10-point scale it is 7.08 and it is more than two years ago. In 2021, it was on average 6.59.
Otodom is the most popular website in Poland supporting the purchase, sale and rental of real estate. It accompanies people in making the most important, life-changing decisions, making this process much easier and more comfortable. We listen to people’s needs in order to meet them and co-create with them their requirements regarding real estate, because Otodom connects people with their homes. Therefore, a study on the well-being of Polish residents was initiated, which was intended to determine the level of happiness among Poles of different ages. The most important issues included whether respondents lived in houses or apartments. People were asked about the immediate surroundings and factors influencing well-being. The researchers also asked those who declared well-being about what they did and how they lived.
In order to properly define the aspects that shape the sense of happiness, influence it positively or negatively, and detect differences in the habits and behaviors of Poles, three groups representing different levels of well-being have been distinguished. 24.9 percent are the leaders of happiness, i.e. people whose well-being is declared to be the best. 48.9 percent these are normal people, i.e. people with average results in this area. 26.2 percent they are unhappy people whose well-being is at a low level. Happiness leaders are a segment dominated by women, who constitute 60.5 percent. this group; 39.5 percent these are men. – Women can act to make their lives better. This very large, as much as 20%, difference between women and men results, according to psychologists, from the fact that women usually have a greater ability to adapt to difficult life conditions and coping with adversity – .
The Silvers already know
What else can be concluded from the report? . However, these are no longer stereotypically perceived by many people as grandfathers and grandmothers who do not work, take care of their grandchildren and struggle with health problems. Silvers – because that’s what we can confidently call them, referring to the English word “silver”, meaning silver, or in this case gray hair – are active and satisfied with life. They enjoy the experience and distance from life that they have acquired with age. According to Otodom data, in terms of the declared level of happiness, silvers have the largest group of happiness leaders, 30%.
In the silver group, i.e. people over 60 years of age, 87 percent is the owner or co-owner of a house/apartment. They live on average in an area of 81 m2 and are generally satisfied with their apartments. Almost three quarters declare that they lack nothing there. The most important things in their surroundings are green areas and clean air (46%), safety (39%) and the availability of shops (37%). It can be summed up very simply that a happy silver is one who owns a house or apartment. – The need to own a flat or house is very strong in the consciousness of Poles. In the case of the oldest generation, however, it has a double meaning. Your own property not only gives you a sense of security and roots. It is also a kind of legacy. Something of value that you can leave behind and pass on to your loved ones – comments Ewa Têczak, housing market expert, Otodom.
Family on their own
The second strong group in the Otodom report are families. In terms of the declared level of happiness, the most numerous families are the so-called normal people, which are 48 percent As many as three quarters of families with children live in a house or apartment that they own. Only 13 percent rents accommodation. Families live on average in 82 m2. The need for more space was declared by 19 percent. respondents in the group.
Families who are at the forefront of happiness perform many more activities in their places of residence and engage in more activities than those whose level of happiness is low. What is most important for the well-being of people who raise children? that these are primarily: access to green areas, noise level, clean air, and safety. Both women and men pay attention to ensuring that there is access to shops and infrastructure for children in the area. Relationships are also important – both family and neighborly. This is even more important than public transport and access to the very center.
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– Social bonds and relationships are a key factor influencing both our mental and physical well-being. Thanks to them, we can develop and cope better with stress and crises. Therefore, infrastructure supporting the building of neighborly relations is of great value, such as green areas with places to sit, neighborhood clubs, communal gardens and places where local events can be organized – comments Ewa Jarczewska-Gerc, psychologist, SWPS and co-author of the Otodom report.
The researcher draws attention to an important aspect of working through this group. Especially women. – The number of household responsibilities related to taking care of the house and children is large. Parents often have little time for rest, hobbies and regeneration. And without taking care of your own resources, burnout becomes inevitable. Women are more susceptible to this condition, as they often bear a greater burden of household or domestic and professional responsibilities, the expert notes. What helps you find balance and create happiness at home? – Therefore, communication and good cooperation between partners are important. We will not build a sense of well-being just by having an apartment in an attractive area. Supportive relationships are necessary for this, summarizes Ewa Jarczewska-Gerc, psychologist, SWPS.
The young people are already adults
, i.e. people aged 18 to 35. They live on average in an area of 56 m2, usually with a partner (48%). Only 26% live alone. The division between apartment owners and renters is almost equal. It amounts to 39 percent respectively. and 41 percent
As much as 37 percent young, independent inhabitants of Poland declare that they are unhappy. In the study described in the report, the subjective declared sense of happiness for the entire sample of respondents is 7.07 (on a 10-point scale).
Young Poles do not have an easy start in adulthood. Recent years have brought a lot of uncertainty. According to Eurostat data, in 2022 more than half of people aged 25 to 34 still lived with their parents. Many people simply cannot afford to move out. – Young adults who in recent years wanted to become independent in terms of housing did not have an easy task. However, this year’s loosening of the rules for calculating creditworthiness by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority and the government loan subsidy program allowed some of them to return to planning the purchase of their own home. Compared to last year, they are also in a better situation compared to last year. people choosing to rent – the return of some refugee families to Ukraine and a large number of new apartments put into use in large cities resulted in greater availability of apartments and, as a consequence, stopped further increases in rents . Therefore, the situation on the housing market in recent months has been more favorable for some young people who want to move out of their family homes – comments Adam Czerniak, co-author of the report, chief economist at Polityka Insight.
Ewa Jarczewska-Gerc, psychologist, SWPS notes that when speaking of young adults, we are actually talking about two different generations – millennials and Generation Z. – Both of these groups have been strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic . Some of them had to learn how to function in their place of residence again in the era of remote work. The younger ones, on the other hand, spent almost two years of learning in front of computer screens, instead of in classrooms or lecture halls. The experiences of recent years may have significantly influenced their feelings about where they live and their ability to build satisfactory social relationships.
The researcher also emphasizes that owning a house or apartment does not make young people feel happy. There is no gender distinction here. This applies equally to women and men. – What is important to them is a housing situation that allows them to function freely in their place of residence, gives them a sense of agency, independence and the ability to actively shape their surroundings – he emphasizes specialist.
Happiness in your own home
Can happiness be earned? American psychologist Martin Seligman, who has been dealing with well-being for years, draws attention to the five most important factors building the sense of happiness (PERMA model). They are not revolutionary. These are positive emotions, involvement in activities, relationships with people, a sense of meaning and significance, and achievements. Our home can be the place where we focus on these key components of happiness. We can spend time with our loved ones, relax, develop hobbies, exercise, read books or watch movies, listen to music. By engaging in various activities and being active, we feel more fulfilled and simply happier.
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“Happy House” is an Otodom project launched in 2021. Its aim is to strengthen people’s confidence in making informed and accurate decisions on the real estate market, and the effect is to increase the well-being of Polish residents related to housing issues. The first edition of the report (2021) outlined the psychological and sociological picture of society, which has redefined the approach to place of residence during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the second edition of the project (2022), the aim of the study was to understand what influences the subjective sense of happiness in the city and its immediate surroundings. The third edition is a return to the basic assumptions of the project. The question was raised again about the well-being of Poland’s inhabitants in the context of the difficult geopolitical and macroeconomic situation. Otodom, in cooperation with and, took up the challenge to answer the question “How do Poles build happiness in difficult times?”.
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Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
