Recent research claims Afghanistan has the lowest life satisfaction and hope for the future in global history, showing alarming averages of 1.28 for life satisfaction and 1.02 for future hope, following the U.S. military withdrawal and Taliban regaining power in 2022. Over 165,000 Afghans have died due to the conflict, affecting many. The study highlights significant disparities in well-being, particularly among women and rural areas, and underscores the need for action and resources to aid recovery.
Afghanistan is experiencing its lowest levels of well-being in recorded history, following the departure of American military forces, as indicated by recent research. The findings suggest that both life satisfaction and optimism for the future among Afghans are at unprecedented lows. The data reveals an alarming life satisfaction average of just 1.28 on a 10-point scale, marking the lowest score ever recorded globally.
This unfortunate statistic surpasses those of over 170 countries since 1946 when global assessments began in the aftermath of World War II. In contrast, the global mean life satisfaction from the Gallup World Poll in 2022 stood at 5.48, with most residents in economically developed Western nations rating their satisfaction between six and eight.
Hope for the future appears even bleaker for Afghan citizens. When asked to envision their lives five years from now, their hope fell to a stark 1.02, even lower than their reported life satisfaction. The War in Afghanistan, initiated in 2001 due to the Taliban’s refusal to surrender al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden following 9/11, has deeply scarred the nation. The roughly 165,000 Afghan lives lost to violence, along with countless others suffering from deprivation of essentials like food and medicine, paint a grim picture of the country’s ongoing struggles.
Levi Stutzman, the lead author of the study from the University of Toronto, commented on the stark contrast between Afghanistan and the global norm. He noted, “Globally, people expect their future to be better than their present. People are optimistic about their future. Afghanistan is quite different as Afghans have reported low life satisfaction and even lower hope, which likely reflects profound distress and despair within the country.”
Stutzman emphasized that this research sheds light on the significant neglect faced by Afghans, stating, “They’ve been left behind by the United States, the international community, and international news organizations.”
Moreover, the study identifies the considerable impact that life circumstances, including war and political instability, can have on subjective well-being. Historically, factors like genetics or individual activities such as exercise have dominated well-being theories, often sidelining structural issues that contribute to happiness. Stutzman reiterated that individual happiness is not solely within personal control; structural factors greatly influence it.
The research encompasses data gathered through face-to-face interviews conducted in Afghanistan across three distinct periods: before the U.S. withdrawal in 2018 and 2019, during the withdrawal and the Taliban’s initial rule in 2021, and after the completion of withdrawal in 2022. In 2018, life satisfaction scores averaged 2.69, showing slight variation during the withdrawal. However, once the U.S. withdrawal was finalized and the Taliban solidified their control in 2022, there was a drastic drop in Afghan life satisfaction. By that year, nearly all Afghans reported satisfaction scores below five, with two-thirds rating themselves at zero or one.
A more focused analysis reveals stark disparities: women and those in rural regions have faced the brunt of deteriorating conditions, with the Taliban enforcing harsher restrictions on women’s rights and rural communities lacking resources to tackle food insecurity. The research team noted a troubling lack of media attention on these ongoing issues since the dramatic scenes at Kabul’s airport in 2022 when many Afghans sought to flee their homeland.
Dr. Felix Cheung, the study’s co-author and Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, made an important observation: “Just because the war has ended, it doesn’t mean that every problem has been solved. That is the first step of a very long recovery process – a process that requires investments in necessities like healthcare, food and water, infrastructure – and is informed by evidence.
In summary, Afghanistan’s current state indicates a dire outlook with life satisfaction and hope plummeting to unprecedented lows in the aftermath of the U.S. military withdrawal and Taliban resurgence. The grim statistics reveal profound distress among the populace, particularly affecting women and rural communities. This research underscores not just the impact of structural challenges on individual well-being, but also the urgent need for international focus and aid to foster recovery and stability in the region.
Original Source: www.lhindependent.com
