Editor's Note: Gallup re-estimated its Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index and Life Evaluation Index data from January 2008 to April 2009 to address context effects that Gallup discovered after the data were originally published.
On a given day, 49% of Americans experience a lot of enjoyment/happiness, while 10% experience intense stress/worry. The percentage of Americans who experience a lot of happiness/enjoyment compared to those who experience intense stress/worry is highest for those who report spending six to seven hours socializing.
In most countries worldwide, Gallup finds that people who have a television in their homes also express higher well-being and optimism than do those without TVs in their homes.