"Where is this unhappiness coming from?" Where all unhappiness comes from, inside each individual. Our unhappiness arises from our failure to understand the nature of reality - impermanent, changing, no solidity, nothing to cling to, no self. We react to stimuli at our sense doors with liking and disliking, which turns into craving and aversion.

Our perception of a contact at a sense door (eyes, ears etc) is always accompanied by a sensation on the body. We evaluate these sensations - good, bad, neutral - and react to them. The only way to be truly happy is to break this habit of reaction, by observing the sensations with detachment, without reaction, and understanding their changing nature.

Trying to create happiness through regulating the external stimuli, whatever they are, is futile.

…The author failed to consider the growing inequality in Australia, as a root cause of childhood unhappiness: When half Australians own 1.5% of the total wealth, which deems the majority of Australians as poor. Marriage and family relationships have become less permanent. Job security is “dead in the water”, increased, as permanent employment has declined. Australians, through inequality, have less cause (and ability) to establish permanent homes, and now join the majority in the diminishing dream of home ownership.

…Australians grow closer to the “revolutionary critical mass” powered by economic and social inequality. This is the “Australia” in which a majority of children dwell; an Australia which “excludes” as a principal of Capitalism, where corporate profits and corporate health dominate the political agenda; where happiness and welfare of society and its children, is subservient.

mums and dads failure to keep their word to each other is a major source of misery. No amount of monetary bribery can compensate for a lack of loving dad and mum at home.

Yes.

My kids have all that they need, especially love.

Thanks for alerting us to the prevalence of unhappiness. I agree that there is no happiness where materialism prevails. Jesus is a part of the 'friendly Trinity of love' and I'm happy to be a part of his body, the Church, the way of joy.

I did a search on the article for the words "divorce" and "separation". It came up negative. There is no other common cause that causes so much trauma and unhappiness in children than their separation from a parent yet the author doesn't mention it. Obviously it is to too politically incorrect to associate family breakdown with unhappiness in children. She talks about lifestyles. She mentions obesity. Fathers are the parents more likely to engage with them in physical activities.

I think the author of the article is incompetent.

"I agree that there is no happiness where materialism prevails."

Male bovine excrement. I'm a materialist and it doesn't make me unhappy.

You don't need religion to be happy - if you do, then I feel sorry for you. Your life must be very empty indeed if you need to fill it with imaginary friends to make it enjoyable.