A recent Yale University study suggests that although higher income is associated with greater life satisfaction, it also causes higher stress levels. The findings, published in Communications Psychology, highlight a complex relationship between financial success and mental well-being.
Researchers analyzed data from the Gallup Daily Poll, which surveyed more than 2 million adults in the United States.
The study found that individuals with higher incomes generally reported feeling more satisfied with their lives. However, stress levels rose once household income exceeded approximately $63,000 yearly.
“Stress is something we all experience or have heard others complain about,” said Karthik Akkiraju, the study’s lead author, in an interview.
“This is even prevalent among those who would typically be considered affluent. Of course, there were hints from earlier works that stress is unique in its behavior compared to other positive and negative-affective emotions”.
The research revealed that individuals with stable lifestyles—those who could afford housing, food, healthcare, and social activities—were generally more satisfied. However, once their income surpassed a certain level, stress levels increased.
“Predictably, these (desirable) life conditions have overall lower stress compared to those without these desirable conditions,” Akkiraju said. “However, paradoxically, they are also more likely to see their stress levels rise sooner as their incomes grow”.
The study suggests that job-related factors, such as increased responsibilities, higher expectations, and an imbalanced work-life dynamic, may contribute to this shift.
The researchers noted that their study measured stress using a simple Yes/No question, without accounting for variations in intensity or duration. This leaves questions about whether individuals see stress as a necessary part of success or a negative consequence of higher income.
“We do not know if individuals seek such stressful situations (for example, through ambitious goals) or if they inexplicably find themselves in such situations due to their other needs being met,” Akkiraju said
The study’s findings could lead to further exploration of income and well-being, particularly in different geographic regions. The researchers aim to expand their analysis beyond the U.S. to understand global trends better.
“We hope that future works focus on collecting more data about the nature of the stress that individuals face and whether they view it as desirable,” Akkiraju said.
“In our next studies, we hope to extend our approach to smaller geographies within the United States and to other parts of the world as well.”
Financial success often brings stability and satisfaction, but this study suggests that it may also come with increased stress, challenging traditional views on the benefits of higher income.
