New Study on Happiness and Watching TV

Happy people spend a lot of time socializing, going to church and reading newspapers — but they don’t spend a lot of time watching television. This new study, conducted at the University of Maryland, found that unhappy people watched TV more and happy people watched it less.

The researchers could not tell whether unhappy people watch more television or whether being glued to the set is what makes people unhappy. According to the study's findings, unhappy people watch an estimated 20 percent more television than very happy people, after taking into account their education, income, age and marital status - as well as other demographic predictors of both viewing and happiness.

I have a strong hunch that unhappy people just watch more TV. Because they are unhappy and do not have joy in their life, they watch more TV as a means of entertainment and to escape from their real life which is not full of rich relationships with other people and with God.

Here are a few truths from scripture on happiness and joy:

"Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly." Proverbs 3:18

"I will be filled with joy because of you.I will sing praises to your name, O Most High." Psalm 9:2

"The Lord is my strength and shield.I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving." Psalm 28:7

"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" Psalm 34:8

Scripture tells us that being happy and joyful stems from the wisdom of God and from being in relationship with Him.

Are you unhappy or do you lack true inner joy or are you experiencing the contentment and resulting life full of joy that flows from a rich relationship with God? If the latter is the case, my hunch is that you don't watch as much TV as the unhappy people do.

What do you think?