Research claims IT makes people happy

Women benefit from IT access more than men, according to research

New research claims to have found a correlation between IT and wellbeing, and evidence that women benefit more than men from access to technology.

The research was commissioned by the British Computer Society (BCS) and conducted by the Trajectory Partnership.

The findings were based on an analysis of the World Values Survey of over 35,000 people globally, and were presented in a report entitled The Information Dividend: Can IT make you happier?.

IT access gives people a greater sense of control in their lives, according to the report, and offers particular benefits for women and the educationally and economically disadvantaged.

Women tend to benefit more than men from IT access because they tend to communicate more than men, said the report.

"Anything that increases the sense of personal control in our lives, such as IT, will reduce anxiety and stress and keep us mentally 'well'," said psychologist Donna Dawson.

"Through giving us choices, allowing us access to information, and putting us in touch with others, IT can increase feelings of security, personal freedom and power, which together work to give us greater life satisfaction."

Dawson explained that her argument applies more to women, who she described as the "hub of social communications in their families, society and work".

Paul Flatters, a partner at the Trajectory Partnership, claimed that the researchers embarked on the study with an open mind.

"We saw that the weight of writing about IT in society is generally negative because IT quickens the pace of life and creates this 'always on' society. The standard assertion is that people have no time to relax because of IT," he said.

However, Flatters added that the researchers were also aware of the alternative argument that people feel "lost" if they don't have their smartphone with them.

"So this research is something we as social researchers have been interested in for a while," he said.

"As far as we are aware, this is the first time that the link between IT and happiness has been quantitatively and statistically established in this way."

BCS president Elizabeth Sparrow suggested that the research should be used to inform the IT profession of their key responsibilities.

"The information society, as we see it, should be a place where information technology is used to improve life satisfaction, and support our individual and collective goals, not erode or undermine them," she said. "The IT profession should be here to serve that purpose."