The economic well-being of nations is associated with positive daily situational experiences

People in economically advantaged nations tend to evaluate their life as more positive overall and report greater well-being than people less nations. But how does positivity manifest the daily experiences of individuals around world? The present study asked 15,244 college students from 62 nations, 42 languages, describe a situation they experienced previous day using Riverside Situational Q-sort (RSQ). Using expert ratings, each was calculated for both individuals. average nation strongly related economic development measured by Human Development Index (HDI). For individuals’ experiences, status also predicted experience, even family socioeconomic status. Further analyses revealed specific characteristics situations higher HDI that make positive. Higher associated with situational involving humor, socializing others, potential express emotions fantasies. Lower an increase presence threats, blame, hostility, well consisting family, religion, money. Despite few negative lower countries, experience still ranged neutral slightly positive, rather negative, suggesting may not necessarily but decrease experiences. results illustrate national influences lives within single instance life, large powerful consequences when accumulated across nation.