Money Can Buy Happiness: Report Shows Lottery Jackpot Winners Happier

We have all read reports of the heartache and pain that sometimes goes with winning millions on a lottery. We are talking about what by all accounts should be a life-changing amount of money; at least seven to nine and occasionally ten figure-sums. Often it appeared that life changed for the worse as lottery winners struggled to adapt to their new financial potential.

Change of Scientific Emphasis

A 1978 report, whose lead author was Philip Brickman, reported that lottery winners were no less or more optimistic than were their neighbors about the future. In one of the first studies that attempted to investigate the term "hedonic treadmill" (a phrase coined by Brickman), it posited that good or bad events do not permanently affect our levels of happiness. The sample, however, was small and only took one point in time typically within a year of lottery winners hit the jackpot. Two new studies have furthered the original research.

Encouraging Signs

The Paris School of Economics and Warwick University studies show that in the first instance, the health and mental well-being of lottery winners declined in the immediate aftermath, with the Paris report showing an increase in drinking and smoking. The length of the studies, however, allowed a longer-term view to take effect - showing that over two or more years, stress levels declined and their psychological well-being showed a marked improvement.

Double-Edged Sword

The European-based studies looked at lotteries whose jackpot maximums were certainly helpful but not necessarily life-changing; $250,000 - $1,000,000.  The American jackpots however, such as those on offer in Powerball and Mega Millions lotteries present a whole different problem. The jackpot payouts are so large as to affect not only the winners, but also the families, friends and acquaintances. One expert suggested that one of the best ways to keep an even keel, is to not tell anyone other than one's partner or spouse and to not make any extravagant purchases or very obvious life-style changes.

Test Your Luck 

If you wanted to test the theorem that winning a lottery jackpot could only affect your life positively, then why not try your luck with online lottery ticket sites, such as The Lotter and Lottery Master.