Hannah Ali feels happiest when she can take her dog, Ella, out for a walk and meet up with her friends.
“Humans are social animals, so when you spend time with your friends, your family … I think that’s what makes you the most happy,” said Ali, a Toronto resident.
As an immigrant to Canada, Ali says she knows a lot of people who also left family and friends behind in their home countries and she sees how losing those social connections impacts them.
“They miss the social aspect of it,” she said. “I think that really affects their mood and their overall quality of life here.”
But a recent review of research on the subject suggests that despite decades of scientific studies, experts still don’t know whether some of the most common happiness-boosting strategies — such as socializing — actually work.
Happiness is a feeling that people can spend their whole lives chasing. Often, that pursuit involves doing certain activities, such as seeing friends or going outside for a walk.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) decided to look into whether there is robust evidence to support the effectiveness of these activities. They began by searching phrases such as “scientifically proven ways to be happier” on Google and looked at the activities recommended within the links in the first 10 pages of results.
From there, they identified the following five most common ways people are advised to seek happiness:
Socializing.
Being in nature.
Expressing gratitude.
Exercising.
Mindfulness/meditation.
After reviewing dozens of studies that focused on these five strategies, they found there’s not a lot of rigorous research to prove they make us any happier.
Hannah Ali, a Toronto resident, sits by the city’s waterfront with her dog, Ella. She says walking her puppy and meeting up with friends boost her mood. (Jennifer La Grassa/CBC)
The review’s senior author cautions that the results shouldn’t discourage those who enjoy the suggested activities.
“If you’re somebody who, for example, works out every day and really enjoys it — absolutely, you should stick with it, and if you find that it makes you happy, that’s fabulous,” said Elizabeth Dunn, a psychology professor at UBC.
“All we’re saying is that there isn’t really strong evidence that, across the board for the typical person, that exercise … or that these other strategies reliably promote happiness.”
The review’s lead author, Dunigan Folk, says that while people shouldn’t stop doing what makes them happy, the findings are important for those who sink time or money into trying to feel good.
“It can be frustrating if you’re trying something that at least the consensus suggests is strongly scientifically backed and it doesn’t work for you, and that can lead to feelings of hopelessness,” said Folk, a PhD student in psychology at UBC.
WATCH | What makes you happy? People weigh in:
‘The evidence isn’t there yet’
The study defined happiness as “subjective well-being,” which includes having more positive feelings than negative ones and feeling satisfied with life overall.
The researchers scoured the literature to find randomized controlled trials that followed what they say are the most up-to-date, robust experimental standards. In particular, they wanted to ensure that the studies involved large numbers of participants and that the studies’ authors had predetermined how they were going to analyze the data, both of which make it more likely that the results could be replicated.
The authors looked at studies that, depending on their design, had a minimum of 45 participants or 86 if testing only one intervention.
Dunigan Folk, left, and Elizabeth Dunn are both at the University of British Columbia. They say they found it surprising that there wasn’t as much high-quality evidence backing some of the popular activities people do to feel happier. (Submitted by Dunigan Folk and Elizabeth Dunn )
They whittled down more than 11,000 studies to 57 that were peer-reviewed and met their criteria. Most of the articles were published after the year 2000.
From these, they discovered that the five most reported on strategies have very little robust research that would suggest they reliably improve mood.
“It’s not like there’s strong evidence that these things don’t work,” said Folk.
“It’s just the fact that these studies tended not to meet the standards for high-quality evidence, and so it’s hard to know exactly what the effects of these behaviours are on happiness.”
While strong evidence of their effectiveness is slim, gratitude and social interactions, such as talking to strangers and being more outgoing, had slightly more research to support their impact on happiness, according to the researchers.
“The evidence isn’t necessarily there yet that these strategies are really broadly helpful in terms of promoting happiness at a population level,” Dunn said.
But experts who use activities such as exercise and mindfulness in their work say that happiness can be a nuanced concept and that the researchers’ criteria is too limiting.
Two experts who spoke with CBC took issue with three aspects of Dunn and Folk’s approach in particular:
1. They only included studies with patients who had a baseline level of happiness.
Dunn and Folk limited their search to studies that involved people who weren’t diagnosed with a mood disorder, such as anxiety or depression.
Eli Puterman, Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Health at UBC, says that is “a major flaw,” because people who are trying to become happier often have more depressive symptoms, according to some research.
“So, you’re excluding the people who would need these [activities] the most,” said Puterman, who is also an associate professor of kinesiology at UBC.
“If you’re already happy, how do I make you happier? I can only move your happiness and your well-being if you have low well-being.”
Eli Puterman, left, is an associate professor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Kinesiology and Bassam Khoury is an associate professor in educational and counselling psychology at McGill University. They are both critical of Dunn and Folks’ findings, though they agree the field could always use more robust evidence. (Jennifer La Grassa/CBC, Submitted by Bassam Khoury)
Puterman says the majority of randomized control trials on exercise focus on people who have a diagnosis or symptoms of a mental health disorder.
Often, he says, these studies have findings related to mood, but those might be a secondary outcome and not the initial focus, so they would not have been captured in Dunn and Folk’s review.
That research, says Puterman, has reliably shown that people who exercise experience improved mental health and well-being — whether they have mental health symptoms or not.
Similarly, Bassam Khoury, an associate professor in educational and counselling psychology at McGill University in Montreal whose research focuses on mindfulness, says much of the most promising research on the effectiveness of mindfulness has been in people with a clinical diagnosis or symptoms of psychiatric disorders.
2. They excluded smaller studies and those that didn’t commit to how data would be analyzed.
Khoury says that in setting a high threshold for the size of studies they were willing to include, Dunn and Folk didn’t give enough consideration to the fact that studies in the area of well-being research can have trouble retaining participants.
Typically, researchers need to track mood for a few hours a week over a couple of months. Longer studies run the risk of people dropping out. And studies with large numbers of people that extend over long periods often cost more money to run.
As a result, he says, mindfulness-based intervention studies can be more challenging than other types of social science experiments, for example, where researchers might need to only spend 15 to 20 minutes with each participant.
But just because a study is smaller doesn’t mean it should be disregarded, Khoury says.
Meanwhile, Puterman says the refusal to include studies that didn’t pre-commit to their analysis was “flawed” because that approach only became standard in the last decade while much of the research in this field came out prior to that.
As a result, he fears the researchers may have thrown out “some of the most important research in this field.”
Folk acknowledges that even if studies had a high number of participants and researchers predetermined how they’d analyze their findings, it doesn’t mean the research is flawless. But, he says, these are the best current standards to measure research against and ensure it’s of higher quality.
3. Their definition of happiness was narrow.
The authors recognize that they used a very strict definition of happiness and didn’t really consider other feelings that could indirectly impact someone’s mood.
Khoury says that approach means the review didn’t capture other beneficial effects of the five strategies that might have happiness as a byproduct.
In particular, he says, they didn’t look at studies that measure quality of life, which is often used in mindfulness research.
Khoury points to a systematic review from 2020 that didn’t look specifically at happiness but found that mindfulness strategies can increase well-being and quality of life in people who don’t have mental health issues.
Researchers say their work is a call to action for the scientific community to do more robust studies that match contemporary research standards to provide more evidence that these sorts of happiness strategies work. (Jennifer La Grassa/CBC)
Khoury called Dunn and Folk’s conclusions “a bit premature and not nuanced” and said it’s precisely that nuance that makes study in this area so complex.
“I should not only meditate because I want to be happier,” he said. “I should come to meditate [because I] want to be more aware, more present, more understanding and maybe a better person.”
More rigorous evidence needed
Both Khoury and Puterman agree that more robust trials are needed, but they disagree with how the review supports that aim.
“We do need better trials, we do need better evidence … [but] I do not believe you throw out all previous evidence as a result of that,” said Puterman.
He says he would have liked to see the researchers assess all of the available research and rate it for how good or bad it is and then separately evaluate the studies that met their high-quality criteria.
Dunn and Folk say they hope their findings are a call to action for the research community.
“One thing we’ve … discovered is that the public really cares about these approaches,” said Dunn. “There’s a lot of interest in them, and so I think we need to do the hard work to put them to [a] more rigorous test.”
Social interaction, especially talking to strangers and being outgoing, was one of the mood-boosting activities that researchers found had more robust evidence for increasing happiness than others. (Jennifer La Grassa/CBC)
As for Ali, while she’s surprised with the review’s findings, no amount of scientific research is likely to make her reconsider her choices about where she finds happiness.
“It’s not going to change my mind, certainly,” she said. “I’ll keep doing things that make me happy.”
Skinstitut Holiday Gift Kits take the stress out of gifting
Toronto, October 31, 2024 – Beauty gifts are at the top of holiday wish lists this year, and Laser Clinics Canada, a leader in advanced beauty treatments and skincare, is taking the pressure out of seasonal shopping. Today, Laser Clincs Canada announces the arrival of its 2024 Holiday Gift Kits, courtesy of Skinstitut, the exclusive skincare line of Laser Clinics Group.
In time for the busy shopping season, the limited-edition Holiday Gifts Kits are available in Laser Clinics locations in the GTA and Ottawa. Clinics are conveniently located in popular shopping centers, including Hillcrest Mall, Square One, CF Sherway Gardens, Scarborough Town Centre, Rideau Centre, Union Station and CF Markville. These limited-edition Kits are available on a first come, first served basis.
“These kits combine our best-selling products, bundled to address the most relevant skin concerns we’re seeing among our clients,” says Christina Ho, Senior Brand & LAM Manager at Laser Clinics Canada. “With several price points available, the kits offer excellent value and suit a variety of gift-giving needs, from those new to cosmeceuticals to those looking to level up their skincare routine. What’s more, these kits are priced with a savings of up to 33 per cent so gift givers can save during the holiday season.
There are two kits to select from, each designed to address key skin concerns and each with a unique theme — Brightening Basics and Hydration Heroes.
Brightening Basics is a mix of everyday essentials for glowing skin for all skin types. The bundle comes in a sleek pink, reusable case and includes three full-sized products: 200ml gentle cleanser, 50ml Moisture Defence (normal skin) and 30ml1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum. The Brightening Basics kit is available at $129, a saving of 33 per cent.
Hydration Heroes is a mix of hydration essentials and active heroes that cater to a wide variety of clients. A perfect stocking stuffer, this bundle includes four deluxe products: Moisture 15 15 ml Defence for normal skin, 10 ml 1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum, 10 ml Retinol Serum and 50 ml Expert Squalane Cleansing Oil. The kit retails at $59.
In addition to the 2024 Holiday Gifts Kits, gift givers can easily add a Laser Clinic Canada gift card to the mix. Offering flexibility, recipients can choose from a wide range of treatments offered by Laser Clinics Canada, or they can expand their collection of exclusive Skinstitut products.
Brightening Basics 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut, available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.
Hydration Heroes 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut – available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
The Canadian Paediatric Society says doctors should regularly screen children for reading difficulties and dyslexia, calling low literacy a “serious public health concern” that can increase the risk of other problems including anxiety, low self-esteem and behavioural issues, with lifelong consequences.
New guidance issued Wednesday says family doctors, nurses, pediatricians and other medical professionals who care for school-aged kids are in a unique position to help struggling readers access educational and specialty supports, noting that identifying problems early couldhelp kids sooner — when it’s more effective — as well as reveal other possible learning or developmental issues.
The 10 recommendations include regular screening for kids aged four to seven, especially if they belong to groups at higher risk of low literacy, including newcomers to Canada, racialized Canadians and Indigenous Peoples. The society says this can be done in a two-to-three-minute office-based assessment.
Other tips encourage doctors to look for conditions often seen among poor readers such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; to advocate for early literacy training for pediatric and family medicine residents; to liaise with schools on behalf of families seeking help; and to push provincial and territorial education ministries to integrate evidence-based phonics instruction into curriculums, starting in kindergarten.
Dr. Scott McLeod, one of the authors and chair of the society’s mental health and developmental disabilities committee, said a key goal is to catch kids who may be falling through the cracks and to better connect families to resources, including quicker targeted help from schools.
“Collaboration in this area is so key because we need to move away from the silos of: everything educational must exist within the educational portfolio,” McLeod said in an interview from Calgary, where he is a developmental pediatrician at Alberta Children’s Hospital.
“Reading, yes, it’s education, but it’s also health because we know that literacy impacts health. So I think that a statement like this opens the window to say: Yes, parents can come to their health-care provider to get advice, get recommendations, hopefully start a collaboration with school teachers.”
McLeod noted that pediatricians already look for signs of low literacy in young children by way of a commonly used tool known as the Rourke Baby Record, which offers a checklist of key topics, such as nutrition and developmental benchmarks, to cover in a well-child appointment.
But he said questions about reading could be “a standing item” in checkups and he hoped the society’s statement to medical professionals who care for children “enhances their confidence in being a strong advocate for the child” while spurring partnerships with others involved in a child’s life such as teachers and psychologists.
The guidance said pediatricians also play a key role in detecting and monitoring conditions that often coexist with difficulty reading such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, but McLeod noted that getting such specific diagnoses typically involves a referral to a specialist, during which time a child continues to struggle.
He also acknowledged that some schools can be slow to act without a specific diagnosis from a specialist, and even then a child may end up on a wait list for school interventions.
“Evidence-based reading instruction shouldn’t have to wait for some of that access to specialized assessments to occur,” he said.
“My hope is that (by) having an existing statement or document written by the Canadian Paediatric Society … we’re able to skip a few steps or have some of the early interventions present,” he said.
McLeod added that obtaining specific assessments from medical specialists is “definitely beneficial and advantageous” to know where a child is at, “but having that sort of clear, thorough assessment shouldn’t be a barrier to intervention starting.”
McLeod said the society was partly spurred to act by 2022’s “Right to Read Inquiry Report” from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which made 157 recommendations to address inequities related to reading instruction in that province.
He called the new guidelines “a big reminder” to pediatric providers, family doctors, school teachers and psychologists of the importance of literacy.
“Early identification of reading difficulty can truly change the trajectory of a child’s life.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.
