A Columbia University study revealed a striking difference between conservative and liberal teenagers. Conservatives are generally happier than their leftist counterparts — not by a little, but by a significant measure.
The researchers, whose revelatory work was released to little fanfare, indicated that while this disparity was striking, the cause was not as easy to pinpoint.
While some have since proffered various explanations for the delta, such as the impact of social media or respondents' religiosity, there is a growing sense that the progressive mentality is a key depressive factor.