Living in a polluted area doesn’t actually make people less happy; the link is entirely explained by family background.
April 1, 2026
Original Paper
Particulate Matter (PM₁₀) and Life Satisfaction: Links Across and Within Twin Pairs
PsyArXiv · re6pu_v1
The Takeaway
Using a massive twin study to control for genetics and upbringing, researchers found that when one twin moves to a more polluted city than the other, their life satisfaction doesn't drop. The commonly observed link between smog and misery is actually just a byproduct of socioeconomic factors.
From the abstract
Ambient air pollution, specifically particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), is a major environmental concern with well-documented links to health and life satisfaction. While the causal pathways and mechanisms underlying these associations are actively being researched, the contribution of genetic and environmental familial factors to these links remains largely unexplored. In this regard, emerging adulthood is intriguing, as young adults increasingly establish lives outside parental homes, allowin