Gaby
The team from Keimyung University in South Korea has criticized astrology. According to the researchers, the zodiac sign under which you were born does not influence your happiness, and the movement of planets has no direct impact on human destinies.
The zodiac consists of 12 constellations that mark the annual path of the Sun’s visible movement. Each of us is born under a specific sign, and throughout our lives, we often check our actions against it. But is there any reason for such dependence on the stars?
What the Researchers Discovered
In a new study, scientists analyzed data from 12,791 volunteers, measuring their well-being across eight indicators: overall unhappiness, depressive symptoms, psychological distress, job dissatisfaction, financial dissatisfaction, feelings of life boredom, self-rated health, and marital dissatisfaction.
Next, the researchers examined the birth dates of the participants, as reported by ILFScience. The team aimed to see if zodiac signs had any influence on life success and feelings of happiness.
It turned out that such a connection was nearly nonexistent.
“The coincidences were almost zero in all cases; this indicates that knowledge of zodiac signs does not provide significant information for predicting a person’s level of well-being,” the researchers stated.
“The results contradict the claims of astrologers that zodiac signs shape tendencies, fate, and a person’s susceptibility to feelings of happiness or success,” they added.
According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2018, about 29 percent of Americans believe in astrology. There is evidence that this number is increasing, especially among young people.
People often think their signs influence their personality, life outcomes, and well-being. Scientists say this is a nice idea, but at the same time, it’s complete nonsense. Science has tested these claims countless times and found no evidence supporting the influence of celestial bodies on human lives.
The team believes that first and foremost, we should enhance people’s scientific literacy and develop their critical thinking skills. They should not rely on pseudoscientific beliefs that lack empirical support but should be equipped with rational tools for making decisions in their lives.
The results of the study were published in the journal Kyklos.
