Psychology Trends
Did you know we have more than 30,000 distinct emotions? Thankfully, psychologists have simplified this for us by grouping them all under eight primary emotions:
• Joy
• Sadness
• Acceptance
• Disgust
• Fear
• Anger
• Surprise
• Anticipation
There is an interesting study called the World Happiness Report, which focuses on the happiness of people at different stages of life. The 2024 report shows alarming results for youth living in the United States and Canada—many young adults under age 30 report being generally unhappy, citing the pandemic, social media, the climate crisis, and a lack of real-world interactions as reasons why.
Why This Matters
Psychologists and counsellors believe that processing and dealing with our emotions in a healthy way allows us to be more empathetic, make better choices, and ask for help when needed. And if the box office returns from this summer’s blockbuster hit Inside Out 2 are any indication, people are eager to understand their emotions better.
Emotions affect every aspect of our lives, including our faith lives. Helping our youth achieve emotional self-awareness may allow them to have healthier, happier lives.
Next Steps
Develop content and resources that address emotional intelligence, mental health, and the specific emotional needs of young adults. This content could speak directly to a younger audience or include practical advice for parents on supporting their children’s emotional and spiritual growth. Aim to foster understanding and open communication within families, all within a faith-based context.
To read more from the World Happiness Report, click here.
If you speak to a younger audience, how have you adjusted your content to spark conversations around this issue?
Jonathan Andrews
Director of Media | jonathan@eaglecom.ca