Unhappy People Watch More TV Than Happy People, U-Md. Researcher Finds

Researchers found that with other free-time activities -- socializing with relatives and friends, religious services and sex, for example -- happy people put in more hours. Television stood out because unhappy people gave it more time.

Researchers say that television hours have long amounted to "the 800-pound gorilla" when it comes to free time. On average, people have 35 to 40 hours a week of discretionary time and spend about 21 hours near the tube.

The study found that the happiest people estimated they tuned in to television 18.9 hours a week. For the least happy, it was nearly 25 hours a week. The study controlled for differences in education, income, age, race, sex and marital status.

Still, the pleasures of television are roundly defended.

Eric Kough, 32, of Odenton said little could be wrong with spending an hour or two a day on "Seinfeld," "CSI" or a reality show. "If I was watching five hours a day, that would be excessive," he said.

Life without tube time might produce its own misery, he said.

"Someone who doesn't watch TV at all is not going to be as happy," he said. "It's part of the popular culture, isn't it?"

For Kim Thomas, 52, of Berwyn Heights, television is just part of life. He works in construction, he said, and as soon as his day is done, "I go home, clean up, cook, and start looking at TV." It stays on all night -- sports, movies, news, CNN.

"The remote control, I sleep with it in my hand," he said, noting that he is content and upbeat on a daily basis. "People wonder why I'm happy all the time," he said.

Apart from its findings on television, the study showed that when people who completed time-use diaries were asked to rate activities from the previous day, sex came out on top.

It was followed by playing sports, and playing and reading with children. The list continued with religious activities, sleep, meals out and socializing. Television was rated 12th -- although well ahead of grocery shopping, work, child care and housework.

Happiness has been studied in different ways before. A recent Pew Research Center study found that Republicans are happier than Democrats. That study was released before the November election left the GOP without control of the White House or Congress.

With that unhappy result still in mind, late-night talker Jay Leno weighed in.

"According to a new study from the University of Maryland, unhappy people watch more TV," Leno began. "So [I'll] begin by saying, 'Hello, Clippers fans, Detroit Lions fans, Republicans, how are you? Welcome to the show."

Staff researcher Meg Smith contributed to this report.