A new study reveals that Americans are less happy today than they were 30 years ago. The research comes from Italy of all places, but it looks at data collected from 1975 to 2004. Can you guess the leading causes of this drop in happiness? The culprits are longer working hours and diminishing personal relationships.

It seems obvious: just look at the drastic rise in medical treatments for depression nowadays! How did we get to this point? While it's safe to say not everyone is a walking puddle of misery, our culture has become increasingly competitive. Not only that, but many people perceive others to be untrustworthy and keep their distance. An interesting note in the study states that it's easier to drop from the middle class to the poor in America than in Europe. Because of this insecurity, Europe's "happiness trends" have remained relatively constant over the years.

However there is hope. For those who think money can buy happiness, the good news is that an extra $320,000 in income will bring the same level of joy as someone who has plenty of friends and social interactions. If you buy into that, then good luck. For everyone else, the fix is simple. Try curbing the occupational binge and start spending more time with friends and family! Finding a happy balance is not as hard as it may appear. Here's to the next 30 years-