Depression-Linked Genes Also Influence Happiness, Korean Researchers Find (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, May 20 (Korea Bizwire) — A team of South Korean researchers has uncovered a strong genetic correlation between mental disorders and subjective well-being, suggesting that certain genetic variants influencing conditions like depression may also determine an individual’s perceived happiness.
In a study published in the May 2025 edition of Nature Human Behaviour, researchers from Samsung Medical Center and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital analyzed genome data from 760,000 individuals—650,000 of European descent and 110,000 Koreans. Their goal was to explore the genetic overlap between subjective happiness and 14 recognized mental disorders.
The findings revealed that seven mental disorders—including depression, bipolar I disorder, schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, ADHD, cannabis use disorder, and autism spectrum disorder—share significant genetic variants with subjective happiness. Notably, 93% of genetic markers associated with depression were also linked to self-perceived well-being.
This overlap may help explain why many patients struggle to regain a sense of happiness even after treatment alleviates the primary symptoms of their mental illness, according to the researchers.
“Patients often report low life satisfaction even after their clinical symptoms have improved,” said Prof. Myung Woo-jae of SNU Bundang Hospital. “Understanding the genetic mechanisms behind this could lead to new treatments that target both mental illness and well-being.”
Prof. Won Hong-hee of Samsung Medical Center added, “Identifying the genetic underpinnings of happiness provides critical insight into the root causes of psychiatric conditions and may guide the development of more comprehensive therapies.”
The research underscores the growing recognition of subjective happiness as not just a psychological state, but a trait with significant biological roots that could reshape the future of mental health care.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
