- People in middle-ranking positions report the least satisfaction with their lives.
- It was discovered that women's happiness was not as closely tied to their employment situation.
A recent study has shown that men in middle-ranking positions report significantly lower life satisfaction compared to those in either low-end or top-tier roles.
Researchers from SP Jain London The School of Management characterizes these individuals as part of the 'miserable middle.'
Nevertheless, their research failed to uncover a connection between professional standing and overall happiness for women.
Professor Yannis Georgellas, who headed the study, explained that the 'miserable middle' phenomenon arises from men who remain in neither high nor low-status positions throughout their careers.
Similarly, people who shift from lower- to mid-level positions might feel disappointed as they do not reach the peak of their careers. However, those men who have consistently held low-level jobs do not undergo such disappointment.
In their research, the group aimed to determine if there is an association between professional standing and overall happiness in life.
They recruited 13,500 individuals from throughout the UK, who were polled over two decades.
The participants rated their life satisfaction using a scale from one to seven, while their job situation was assessed based on a standardized measure.
The findings showed that males in mid-level positions experienced the least happiness.
Professor Georgellis stated, "We discovered that men trapped in average positions tended to be the most unhappy, and we concluded that the ability to move between occupations plays a crucial role in enhancing life satisfaction for these men."
The researchers draw parallels between this pattern and what is known as the 'Silver Medallist' phenomenon.
This illustrates that individuals securing Silver medals in sports events tend to be the least content, because they often measure their achievements against those of Gold medalists.
On the contrary, Bronze medalists tend to be happier as they can reflect on the possibility of not receiving any medals at all.
In general, women's overall happiness was discovered to be less influenced by their employment situation.
This, however, did not apply to women with higher education.
Professor Georgellis noted that with the significant increase in women’s education levels, which have surpassed those of men, occupational status appears poised to become a more substantial factor in enhancing the overall well-being of every worker.
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