What makes us happy—and what makes us stressed? While money often seems like the obvious answer to both questions, a new study from Yale University offers a more complex picture.
Researchers found that although higher income is generally linked to greater life satisfaction, it can also come with increased stress, especially once a person earns enough to meet their basic needs.
Published in Communications Psychology, the study analyzed data from over 2 million U.S. adults collected between 2008 and 2017 through the Gallup Daily Poll. Researchers Karthik Akkiraju and Narasimha D. Rao used a unique statistical method—cubic splines—to explore the non-linear relationship between income, life satisfaction, and stress.
Their goal was to move beyond simple averages and see how people’s experiences shift at different income levels and lifestyle conditions.
A Clear Pattern: Life Satisfaction Rises with Income—But So Does Stress
The researchers found that people who reported having secure housing, access to food, good health habits, and strong social connections also tended to report higher life satisfaction. Unsurprisingly, these positive lifestyle factors were more common among people with higher incomes.
But here’s the twist: people with household incomes above about $63,000 per year were also more likely to say they felt stressed. In fact, once basic needs were met and life satisfaction was already relatively high, stress levels began to climb again with rising income.
In other words, more money seemed to bring more stress—especially for those already enjoying comfortable lives.
Why Might Higher Earners Be More Stressed?
The study didn’t dive into the specific causes of this increased stress, but the authors suggest several possibilities. Higher-paying jobs often come with:
- Greater responsibilities and expectations
- Longer working hours
- Poorer work-life balance
- Increased pressure to perform or maintain status
- Ambitious goals that may lead to self-imposed stress
Interestingly, the researchers found that people with the most desirable lifestyles—good health habits, strong social ties, and stable housing—actually experienced rising stress earlier, at lower income levels, compared to those without these advantages.
That might seem contradictory, but it could reflect how these individuals seek out or are placed into more demanding roles once their foundational needs are met.
Is All Stress Bad?
That’s a key question the study couldn’t fully answer. The stress data came from a simple Yes/No question, without details about how long the stress lasted, how intense it was, or whether it was seen as positive or negative.
As first author Karthik Akkiraju put it, “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.”
Some people might welcome a certain level of stress—like the kind that comes from chasing career goals or pushing personal limits. For others, the same stress could feel overwhelming and harmful.
What Comes Next?
The study raises important questions about how we think about income, happiness, and what truly makes a fulfilling life. It also highlights the need for more detailed data on the kinds of stress people experience—and how they feel about it.
The researchers hope to expand their work by:
- Exploring stress and income patterns in smaller regions within the U.S.
- Comparing results across different countries and cultures
- Gathering more detailed data on stress (its causes, duration, and whether it’s welcome or unwanted)
Review and Takeaway
This study challenges the assumption that more money always equals less stress and greater happiness. While higher income helps people meet essential needs and often boosts life satisfaction, it may also introduce new pressures and expectations that increase stress.
For individuals, the findings are a reminder that wealth doesn’t guarantee peace of mind. For policymakers and employers, the results suggest a need to focus not just on economic growth but also on supporting well-being, work-life balance, and mental health—especially for those in high-pressure roles.
In the end, the study paints a nuanced picture: money helps, but it’s not the full story. Once we have enough, how we live—and how we manage stress—may matter more than how much we earn.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and 6 foods you can eat to improve mental health.
For more mental health information, please see recent studies about top foods to tame your stress, and Omega-3 fats may help reduce depression.
The research findings can be found in Communications Psychology.
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