People with higher incomes, in general, feel more proud, more confident and less apprehensive in comparison to those individuals who earn a lower income, although they may not feel more compassionate, caring, or cherishing, showed the findings of a recent study
In a study of data from 162 countries, researchers found consistent evidence that higher income predicts whether people feel more positive “self-regard emotions,” including confidence, pride, and determination. The study was published in the journal American Psychological Association.
Lower-income had the opposite effect and predicted negative self-regard emotions, such as sadness, fear, and shame.
The research was published online in the journal Emotion.
The findings were similar in both high-income countries and developing countries, said lead researcher Eddie M.W. Tong, PhD, an associate professor of psychology at the National University of Singapore.
“The effects of income on our emotional well-being should not be underestimated,” he said.
“Having more money can inspire confidence and determination while earning less is associated with gloom and anxiety.”
In what they called the most comprehensive analyses to date, the researchers conducted an independent analysis and a meta-analysis of five previous studies that included a survey of more than 1.6 million people in 162 countries.
The analyses also included a category of emotions people feel about others, such as love, anger or compassion.
Unlike self-regard emotions, the studies didn’t find a consistent link between income level and how people feel about others.
“Having more money doesn’t necessarily make a person more compassionate and grateful, and greater wealth may not contribute to building a more caring and tolerant society,” Tong said. (ANI)
