it seems that the coldness and seasonal daylight changes in some of these countries (ie. Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Canada, Ireland) would limit their competitiveness in certain happiest/life satisfaction indices. But many first world countries with northern climates actually score very high on these studies, including the ones which I listed.
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Well there could be several reasons.
And actually I would have to disagree with some of this; in many places in extremely northern climates, such as Nunavut in Canada, tend to have extremely high rates of depression, suicide, crime, and dissatisfaction in life, mostly due to the limited light conditions, cold climate, and disconnectedness with the rest of the world. I think the depression rate is either 4 or 6 times higher in Nunavut than it is in the US.
So this is not always the case, and it also depends on WHERE in each country you are referring to.
I have never seen these studies or surveys so I cannot entirely believe your comment as of now (lack of evidence, always the scientist kind of thing, sorry), but if I were to wager a guess as to why this phenomenon could be true if it does in fact exist, I would have to say it correlates to living standards. Many of the countries listed in northern regions, including some of those you listed, are highly developed countries of the Western World, which tends to mean they have a relatively high standard of living, and that usually tends to correlate into satisfaction and happiness. Additionally, some of these countries have even happier citizens due to their government and social systems; some of these countries have better health care and social services than the US (often considered the most developed country) does.
But there is also a fundamental flaw in this statement: some of these countries you listed aren't really countries in polar or freezing climates, but simply exist in the Northern Hemisphere, which doesn't really amount to much as far as climates go. For example, you listed Ireland, so why not the UK then? Ireland could not be considered by any means to be in an especially cold climate, and this is in many ways due to the warming currents that pass through the English Channel. You see, many Western European countries (including Ireland and England) exist in relatively high latitudes, which many people mistake to mean that they have cold or freezing climates. While yes, most countries at these latitudes do have cold climates, not ALL of them do. In the case of Western Europe, these countries have relatively warm climates even though they are located at latitudes comparable to Canada, but the warm currents passing into the English channel warms the area and prevents such climates. Effectively, Ireland would not really be considered a cold climate.
And actually I would have to disagree with some of this; in many places in extremely northern climates, such as Nunavut in Canada, tend to have extremely high rates of depression, suicide, crime, and dissatisfaction in life, mostly due to the limited light conditions, cold climate, and disconnectedness with the rest of the world. I think the depression rate is either 4 or 6 times higher in Nunavut than it is in the US.
So this is not always the case, and it also depends on WHERE in each country you are referring to.
I have never seen these studies or surveys so I cannot entirely believe your comment as of now (lack of evidence, always the scientist kind of thing, sorry), but if I were to wager a guess as to why this phenomenon could be true if it does in fact exist, I would have to say it correlates to living standards. Many of the countries listed in northern regions, including some of those you listed, are highly developed countries of the Western World, which tends to mean they have a relatively high standard of living, and that usually tends to correlate into satisfaction and happiness. Additionally, some of these countries have even happier citizens due to their government and social systems; some of these countries have better health care and social services than the US (often considered the most developed country) does.
But there is also a fundamental flaw in this statement: some of these countries you listed aren't really countries in polar or freezing climates, but simply exist in the Northern Hemisphere, which doesn't really amount to much as far as climates go. For example, you listed Ireland, so why not the UK then? Ireland could not be considered by any means to be in an especially cold climate, and this is in many ways due to the warming currents that pass through the English Channel. You see, many Western European countries (including Ireland and England) exist in relatively high latitudes, which many people mistake to mean that they have cold or freezing climates. While yes, most countries at these latitudes do have cold climates, not ALL of them do. In the case of Western Europe, these countries have relatively warm climates even though they are located at latitudes comparable to Canada, but the warm currents passing into the English channel warms the area and prevents such climates. Effectively, Ireland would not really be considered a cold climate.
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