My settlement went from 50-79 happiness in the first few days now I have 18 settlers over 30 food over 100 water over 150 defense and 25 beds yet my happiness level has a down arrow next to it and is at 78 now. what am i doing wrong???

Have you added shops and clinics? I've added all the emporium stores except for the 3rd clinic you can set up. My settlements happiness fluctuates between 80-84.

oooo good point I only have the weapon shop right now. Ill try this and post if it works to try to help others. Still not sure how to get it up to 100 though

At Sanctury Hill I had a happiness of around 70%. Started work on another 2 settlements and did some of the story too, and watched Santuary Hill steadily drop to almost 40%. It always had enough food & water, hadn't ever been attacked and had a high defence rating. All stats always stayed green. I kept calling back and spendings a little time there - incase it was an attendance time thing. But it made no difference.

Then when I started to build more things at Sanctuary, the happiness started to rise while I was there. I did add additional defences, but I think the happiness was starting to rising again before adding the extra defences.

So what youre saying is the settlements are attention wh@res lol

Yeah I have no idea how to get all the way to 100. I assume it's with clinics, but I haven't upgraded my medic skill so I don't know.