Unhappy people watch 30% more TV - GoFuckYourself.com

Sly · 11-15-2008, 06:17 PM

Unhappy people glue themselves to the television 30 percent more than happy people.

The finding, announced on Thursday, comes from a survey of nearly 30,000 American adults conducted between 1975 and 2006 as part of the General Social Survey.

While happy people reported watching an average of 19 hours of television per week, unhappy people reported 25 hours a week. The results held even after taking into account education, income, age and marital status.

In addition, happy individuals were more socially active, attended more religious services, voted more and read a newspaper more often than their less-chipper counterparts.

The researchers are not sure, though, whether unhappiness leads to more television-watching or more viewing leads to unhappiness.

In fact, people say they like watching television: Past research has shown that when people watch television they enjoy it. In these studies, participants reported that on a scale from 0 (dislike) to 10 (greatly enjoy), TV-watching was nearly an 8.

But perhaps the high from watching television doesn't last.

"These conflicting data suggest that TV may provide viewers with short-run pleasure, but at the expense of long-term malaise," said researcher John Robinson, a sociologist at the University of Maryland, College Park.

In this scenario, even the happiest campers could turn into Debbie-downers if they continue to stare at the boob-tube. The researchers suggest that over time, television-viewing could push out other activities that do have more lasting benefits. Exercise and sex come to mind, as do parties and other forms of socialization known to have psychological benefits.

Or, maybe television is simply a refuge for people who are already unhappy.

"TV is not judgmental nor difficult, so people with few social skills or resources for other activities can engage in it," Robinson and UM colleague Steven Martin write in the December issue of the journal Social Indicators Research.

They add, "Furthermore, chronic unhappiness can be socially and personally debilitating and can interfere with work and most social and personal activities, but even the unhappiest people can click a remote and be passively entertained by a TV."

The researchers say follow-up studies are needed to tease out the relationship between television and happiness.

Calico Jack · 11-15-2008, 06:20 PM

I must be really depressed. I love watching the box!

Sands · 11-15-2008, 06:29 PM

Yeah dude, I've got the TV going all day. I really am a miserable bastard.

Doctor Dre · 11-15-2008, 06:30 PM

Maybe it's the TV that makes you unhappy

The Duck · 11-15-2008, 06:50 PM

Interesting, TV is the main cause of stupidity in the world today.

Due · 11-15-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor Dre

Maybe it's the TV that makes you unhappy

They should switch away from the financial news channel

Corleone · 11-15-2008, 07:55 PM

i dont even have cable does that make me super happy? :D

GetSCORECash · 11-15-2008, 07:58 PM

So surfing GFY proves...

BradM · 11-15-2008, 08:01 PM

I'm unhappy but I don't have cable. How do you like THEM apples?

uno · 11-15-2008, 08:10 PM

I must be borderline suicidal.

SomeCreep · 11-15-2008, 09:55 PM

Can you believe, not even 100 years ago, we had neither television or radio. Damn, I wonder what people did back then?

rowan · 11-16-2008, 01:47 AM

A 31 year survey only included 30,000 adults? That's a good sized sample of the USA population.

About a hundredth of one percent.

2012 · 11-16-2008, 01:52 AM

neat survey, I wonder what the percentage of cheese-puff consumption was among unhappy tv viewers

mrwilson · 11-16-2008, 01:53 AM

I must be real happy!
I watch tv once, twice a week at the most and even then its a movie.
Not in to all this drama/soap shit they put on the tv

Klen · 11-16-2008, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomeCreep

Can you believe, not even 100 years ago, we had neither television or radio. Damn, I wonder what people did back then?

Fucking all day and night

ARC-Alex · 11-16-2008, 05:07 AM

In fact my family banned TV more than 3 years ago. We are fucking happy. Unlike these guys:

seeandsee · 11-16-2008, 05:32 AM

they did't heard for net

AmeliaG · 11-16-2008, 05:33 AM

Reading the newspaper does not make me more happy.

mainroman · 11-16-2008, 06:01 AM

This actually sounds like truth.
Right now I cannot call myself a happy man in every aspect. There are a few things in my life than make me very unhappy right now and guess what I'm hooked on certain TV shows like Terminator, Supernatural, and few more older ones.
I don't have a lot of time to watch them unfortunately, but I think I'm close to 25 hours a week.

digifan · 11-16-2008, 06:52 AM

My tv has died lately so I am very unhappy.

SAMANTAmax · 11-16-2008, 06:54 AM

I watch Tv all day long and that doesnt mean that Im unhappy perosn!!

Fletch XXX · 11-16-2008, 07:09 AM

kill your television

Violetta · 11-16-2008, 08:09 AM

I watch VERY little tv!

spacedog · 11-16-2008, 09:11 AM

I must be very happy then, because I hardly ever watch TV.. Only time I do is when I rent a movie..

brassmonkey · 11-16-2008, 09:20 AM

the shows on tv now are crap

bausch · 11-16-2008, 09:22 AM

Well, I am depressed but I find the internet a great substitute for the tv as a great way to escape from life. Being online 15 hours a day (not work related but just surfing) or watching tv 7 hours a day, it's the same thing....

I noticed people who are depressed sleep more too. When I feel down I will sleep over 12 hours a day sometimes...

Tv is a great way to escape from life, you can travel out of your own miserable life and immerse yourself in someone else's much more exciting, glamorous, happy life!

Double trouble · 11-16-2008, 09:37 AM

I don't watch TV

11-15-2008, 06:17 PM	#1
Sly Let's do some business! Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 31,323	Unhappy people watch 30% more TV Unhappy people glue themselves to the television 30 percent more than happy people. The finding, announced on Thursday, comes from a survey of nearly 30,000 American adults conducted between 1975 and 2006 as part of the General Social Survey. While happy people reported watching an average of 19 hours of television per week, unhappy people reported 25 hours a week. The results held even after taking into account education, income, age and marital status. In addition, happy individuals were more socially active, attended more religious services, voted more and read a newspaper more often than their less-chipper counterparts. The researchers are not sure, though, whether unhappiness leads to more television-watching or more viewing leads to unhappiness. In fact, people say they like watching television: Past research has shown that when people watch television they enjoy it. In these studies, participants reported that on a scale from 0 (dislike) to 10 (greatly enjoy), TV-watching was nearly an 8. But perhaps the high from watching television doesn't last. "These conflicting data suggest that TV may provide viewers with short-run pleasure, but at the expense of long-term malaise," said researcher John Robinson, a sociologist at the University of Maryland, College Park. In this scenario, even the happiest campers could turn into Debbie-downers if they continue to stare at the boob-tube. The researchers suggest that over time, television-viewing could push out other activities that do have more lasting benefits. Exercise and sex come to mind, as do parties and other forms of socialization known to have psychological benefits. Or, maybe television is simply a refuge for people who are already unhappy. "TV is not judgmental nor difficult, so people with few social skills or resources for other activities can engage in it," Robinson and UM colleague Steven Martin write in the December issue of the journal Social Indicators Research. They add, "Furthermore, chronic unhappiness can be socially and personally debilitating and can interfere with work and most social and personal activities, but even the unhappiest people can click a remote and be passively entertained by a TV." The researchers say follow-up studies are needed to tease out the relationship between television and happiness. __________________ Vacares - Web Hosting, Domains, O365, Security & More - Paxum and BTC Accepted Windows VPS now available Great for TSS, Nifty Stats, remote work, virtual assistants, etc. Click here for more details.

11-15-2008, 06:20 PM	#2
Calico Jack Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,051	I must be really depressed. I love watching the box! __________________ Got Foot Fetish Traffic? These sites will make you $$$... Footsie Babes - Hot Legs & Feet - Kink's Foot Worship - Black Meat White Feet NAKED HOSTING (Certified Hosting)...Adult Web Hosting at its FINEST! Signup Here!

11-15-2008, 06:50 PM	#5
The Duck Adult Content Provider Industry Role: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 18,243	Interesting, TV is the main cause of stupidity in the world today. __________________ Skype Horusmaia ICQ 41555245 Email [email protected]

11-15-2008, 07:58 PM	#8
GetSCORECash Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 5,527	So surfing GFY proves... __________________ \| skype: getscorecash \| ICQ: 59-271-063 \| New Sites: \| SCORELAND2 \| Roku Channel SCORETV.TV \| 60PLUSMILFS \| \| Big Tit Hooker \| Tits And Tugs \| Big Boobs POV \| Karla James \| \| Naughty Foot Jobs \| Linsey's World \| Busty Arianna Sinn \| Get SCORE Cash \|

11-15-2008, 08:10 PM	#10
uno RIP Dodger. BEST.CAT.EVER Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC Area Posts: 18,450	I must be borderline suicidal. __________________ -uno icq: 111-914 CrazyBabe.com - porn art MojoHost - For all your hosting needs, present and future. Tell them I sent ya!

11-15-2008, 06:29 PM	#3
Sands Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: 418194907 Posts: 3,134	Yeah dude, I've got the TV going all day. I really am a miserable bastard.

11-15-2008, 07:55 PM	#7
Corleone C.R.E.A.M Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,262	i dont even have cable does that make me super happy? :D

11-15-2008, 08:01 PM	#9
BradM Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: 1123,6536,5231 Posts: 3,397	I'm unhappy but I don't have cable. How do you like THEM apples?

11-15-2008, 09:55 PM	#11
SomeCreep :glugglug Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Where the Wild Things Are Posts: 26,118	Can you believe, not even 100 years ago, we had neither television or radio. Damn, I wonder what people did back then? __________________ Webair Hosting I use and recommend Webair for hosting.

11-16-2008, 01:47 AM	#12
rowan Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 17,393	A 31 year survey only included 30,000 adults? That's a good sized sample of the USA population. About a hundredth of one percent.

11-16-2008, 01:52 AM	#13
2012 So Fucking What Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 17,189	neat survey, I wonder what the percentage of cheese-puff consumption was among unhappy tv viewers __________________ best host: Webair \| best sponsor: Kink \| best coder: 688218966 \| Go Fuck Yourself

11-16-2008, 01:53 AM	#14
mrwilson mrwilson 2.0 Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: ICQ: 465406783 Posts: 5,122	I must be real happy! I watch tv once, twice a week at the most and even then its a movie. Not in to all this drama/soap shit they put on the tv

11-16-2008, 05:07 AM	#16
ARC-Alex Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 81	In fact my family banned TV more than 3 years ago. We are fucking happy. Unlike these guys: __________________ www.AdultRealCash.com - Exclusive Websites! ARC-Alex \| ICQ: 368-375-856

11-16-2008, 05:32 AM	#17
seeandsee Check SIG! Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Europe (Skype: gojkoas) Posts: 50,945	they did't heard for net __________________ BUY MY SIG - 50$/Year Contact here

11-16-2008, 05:33 AM	#18
AmeliaG Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10,558	Reading the newspaper does not make me more happy. __________________ GFY Hall of Famer AltStar Hall of Famer Blue Blood's SpookyCash.com Babe photography portfolio

11-16-2008, 06:01 AM	#19
mainroman Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 31	This actually sounds like truth. Right now I cannot call myself a happy man in every aspect. There are a few things in my life than make me very unhappy right now and guess what I'm hooked on certain TV shows like Terminator, Supernatural, and few more older ones. I don't have a lot of time to watch them unfortunately, but I think I'm close to 25 hours a week. __________________ RA Team Cash - new webmaster affiliate program! Strapon Fiesta - great new "strap on" fetish site.

11-16-2008, 06:52 AM	#20
digifan The Profiler Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: ICQ 76281726 and I'm female Posts: 14,618	My tv has died lately so I am very unhappy. __________________ [email protected] Webair Rocks

11-16-2008, 06:54 AM	#21
SAMANTAmax TieMeUp Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Home Posts: 7,046	I watch Tv all day long and that doesnt mean that Im unhappy perosn!! __________________ 1million $ in a Month

11-16-2008, 07:09 AM	#22
Fletch XXX GFY HALL OF FAME DAMMIT!!! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: that 504 Posts: 60,840	kill your television __________________ Want an Android App for your tube, membership, or free site? Need banners or promo material? Hit us up (ICQ Fletch: 148841377) or email me fletchxxx at gmail.com - recent work - About me

11-16-2008, 08:09 AM	#23
Violetta Affiliate Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 28,735	I watch VERY little tv! __________________ M&A Queen

11-16-2008, 09:11 AM	#24
spacedog Yes that IS me. Bitch. Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 14,149	I must be very happy then, because I hardly ever watch TV.. Only time I do is when I rent a movie..

11-16-2008, 09:20 AM	#25
brassmonkey Pay It Forward Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Yo Mama House Posts: 77,188	the shows on tv now are crap __________________ TRUMP 2025 KEKAW!!! - The Laken Riley Act Is Law! DACA ENDED - SUPPORT AZ HCR 2060 52R - email: brassballz-at-techie.com

11-16-2008, 09:22 AM	#26
bausch Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,017	Well, I am depressed but I find the internet a great substitute for the tv as a great way to escape from life. Being online 15 hours a day (not work related but just surfing) or watching tv 7 hours a day, it's the same thing.... I noticed people who are depressed sleep more too. When I feel down I will sleep over 12 hours a day sometimes... Tv is a great way to escape from life, you can travel out of your own miserable life and immerse yourself in someone else's much more exciting, glamorous, happy life! Last edited by bausch; 11-16-2008 at 09:23 AM..

11-16-2008, 09:37 AM	#27
Double trouble So Fucking What? Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 22,251	I don't watch TV __________________