New Research Reveals Genetic Overlaps Between Happiness and Psychiatric Disorders

Recent scientific investigations have shed light on the genetic connections between subjective well-being (SWB) — which encompasses how individuals perceive their happiness and life satisfaction — and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders. Although previous research identified links between SWB and psychiatric diagnoses, the underlying genetic commonalities remained unclear.

A collaborative study conducted by researchers from Sungkyunkwan University, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, and other institutions in South Korea aimed to explore these genetic overlaps in greater detail. Their findings, published in ture Human Behavior, highlighted specific brain tissues and genes associated with SWB that may also influence the development of psychiatric conditions.

Lead researchers Woojae Myung and Hong-Hee Won emphasized that difficulties in experiencing happiness are prevalent in individuals with psychiatric disorders and often persist even after primary symptoms are managed, adversely affecting quality of life. Their goal was to understand the molecular and genetic underpinnings of SWB and its relationship to mental health, with the hope of informing more targeted and effective interventions.

The study examined genetic data from both European and Korean populations, revealing that genetic influences on SWB are somewhat consistent across diverse ancestries. Notably, due to limited data from East Asian sources, most genetic analysis centered on European datasets, especially for psychiatric conditions. Nonetheless, about 93% of genetic variants linked to depression also correlated with daily happiness, suggesting shared biological pathways.

Advanced statistical tools that leverage the polygenic nature of these traits helped illustrate significant genetic overlaps. The research identified new genes, including ZMYND8 and LINC02163, associated with emotional regulation and active in key brain regions like the prefrontal cortex and amygdala. These discoveries bring us closer to understanding why some individuals are more susceptible to mental illnesses or find it harder to feel happy.

Future directions involve expanding genetic datasets, particularly from underrepresented populations, to better understand rare variants with strong impacts on well-being and mental health. The team hopes these insights will pave the way for personalized mental health treatments that address both psychiatric symptoms and residual feelings of unhappiness, ultimately improving overall quality of life.