Need a new excuse to go on a vacation? It’s good for you.
The latest scores from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index show that Americans who take regular trips are significantly happier than those who don’t.
And it’s not just about money. People earning less than $24,000 a year who said they take regular vacations had a higher well-being score (66.3) than those earning at least $120,000 a year but don’t take vacations (55.1).
The link between vacations and well-being is significant. Previous Gallup research has shown a person’s well-being score is strongly tied to health-related issues, from life expectancy to obesity. Other studies have suggested that vacation time does good for the brain and heart, which ultimately could lower healthcare costs for employers.
The Gallup survey asked Americans to rate on a scale of one to five whether they take time for vacations with family or friends, with a “5” meaning they do and a “1’’ meaning they don’t. About half responded with a “4” or “5’’ and about a third responded with a “1” or “2.’’
Despite the well-being benefits of taking trips, not everyone has the time or money to do so. The survey found that low-income people were about half as likely to make time for vacations (33%) as high-income people (64%).
Differences also varied among demographic groups. Asians (55%) and whites (52%) said they were more likely to get away than blacks (44%) and Hispanics (42%).
Americans over age 65 were more likely to go on vacations than younger people, presumably because have more time and resources. Married people took the most vacations (56%), followed by widowers (47%) and singles (43%).
Only 30% of people who were separated and 37% of those divorced said they took time for trips.
Even if a cruise or trip to an exotic place isn’t in the cards, a weekend camping trip or “staycation’’ close to home could go a long ways toward lifting a person’s spirits.
In the end, it’s typically not about the luxury accommodations or meals. It’s about the time spent with family and friends and the memories made.
The survey results were based on telephone interviews of 148,854 randomly selected adults, ages 18 and older, living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. It was conducted Jan. 1-Nov. 30, 2014, and has a sampling error of plus or minus 1 percentage point.
Please Leave A Comment
Related posts:
Almost 50 Percent of People Believe Low-Income Americans Pay Too Much in Taxes
Survey: Almost 50 Percent of Americans are Spending More This Year
What You Know Is More Important Than Where You Go to College, Survey Says
UBS to Spend $10 Million on a College Success Program for Low-income Students
Survey: More Sleep Leads to Higher Well-Being