How does social media affect our lives? What drives well-being at work? And how is happiness linked to inequality and sustainable living? These are just some of the questions that we have already answered.
Publications
Taking 10 leaps for humanity
The Happiness Research Institute & Leaps by Bayer 2022
In this report for Leaps by Bayer, we seek to quantify the potential wellbeing impact of overcoming ten major health- and agriculture-related challenges for humanity: The ten Leaps.
Traditional measuring of return on investment has left a significant blind spot when it comes to the influence on people’s lives. The WALY metric fills this gap, providing an evidence-based framework for assessing the potential to deliver meaningful impacts on health, environment, and wellbeing.
As such, the WALY metric enables investors to make decisions not only based on financial returns but also on the potential to improve peoples’ lives.
Towards a Wellbeing Economy
The Happiness Research Institute, commissioned by The Nordic Council of Ministers, 2021
Governments around the world, notably New Zealand, the UK, Iceland, and Finland, are progressively adopting the notion of the Wellbeing Economy to solve some of society’s most looming issues.
To provide a clear framework for understanding and engaging with the concept of the Wellbeing Economy, we have written a report for The Nordic Council of Ministers and The Nordic Council.
Despite needing a more clear common language, we find the Wellbeing Economy has enormous potential in solving societal wellbeing issues such as loneliness and poor mental health, amongst many others.
Long and Happy Lives
The Happiness Research Institute, commissioned by Ældre Sagen, 2020
Can we support increased life expectancy with increased wellbeing, or is loneliness the price we must pay for longer life? What are the primary challenges we face as a society to promote successful aging today, and how will they evolve over the next three decades? Can we even afford to pay the socioeconomic price of unhappiness?
These are issues we try to shed light on in this report by investigating the link between subjective wellbeing and 26 different life conditions for adults over 50 years old. We hope it will spark new ideas and discussions about how to secure quality of life in aging societies
Download full version (Danish)
Download short version (English)
Please find the online appendix here
Wellbeing in the age of COVID-19
The Happiness Research Institute, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of millions of people around the world. To study its impact on wellbeing, the Happiness Research Institute launched a longitudinal study from April to July, 2020.
In this report, we present key findings on the relationship between COVID-19 case increases and wellbeing, patterns of loneliness for different groups of people, behavioral buffers against loneliness, the relationship between media consumption and fear, and more. Using these insights we offer a 6-item action plan containing day-to-day activities to boost happiness levels during the pandemic.
Please find the online appendix here
Wellbeing Adjusted Life Years 2020
The Happiness Research Institute &
Leaps by Bayer, 2020
How can we produce the greatest happiness return for humankind? Would it be better to reduce loneliness, diabetes, or air pollution by 50%? The Happiness Research Institute and Leaps by Bayer have developed a new impact metric to help provide answers to these questions. Rooted in decades of happiness research, WALYs can be used to empirically assess the determinants of good lives by providing a common currency of impact across economic, social, and environmental domains. Click on the image to read the whole report.
Please find the short version of the report here
Please find the online appendix here
#SortingOutSocialMedia
The Happiness Research Institute
& Nordic Council of Ministers, 2019
Does social media really pose a threat to young people’s well-being?
This report examines the relationship between social media use and well-being. It demonstrates that young people's online and offline lives are inextricably linked. To truly understand the effects of social media use, it is therefore necessary to consider which platforms young people use, how they use them, and the personal characteristics that make some young people more vulnerable than others online.
Please find the online appendix here
Valcon Working Paper
The Happiness Research Institute
& Valcon, 2019
Global Mangement Consultancy to Revolutionise Corporate Culture with Happiness
The F-word in business is feelings. Companies usually don't talk about feelings or emotions or happiness. However, in 2018, Valcon and The Happiness Research Institute established the Valcon Happiness Lab. On Tuesday 25th June, the first Working Paper with the initial results of the Lab is published to inspire companies and managers world-wide.
The GoodHome Report
The Happiness Research Institute
& Kingfisher plc, 2019
The GoodHome Report is a major new international study which has been undertaken by the Happiness Research Institute and Kingfisher plc. The report looks at the impact of our homes on our overall happiness and wellbeing. The study surveyed 13,489 people and conducted 78 in-depth personal interviews with people from across 10 countries in Europe.
A key finding is that the home is significantly more important to our happiness than our income or job. Size, location and home ownership have far less impact on happiness than we might expect.
Take a look at the short version here.
Job Satisfaction Index 2019
The Happiness Research Institute, 2019
The 2019 version of the Job Satisfaction Index places emphasis on the main seven factors that have been identified to affect job satisfaction the most among employed Danes.
As several Job Satisfaction Indexes have been published since 2015, this report focuses both on the important factors for job satisfaction for Danes in this year as well as its change over time. Moreover, this year's index explores three current topics: balance, stress, and identity at work.
In The Shadow Of Happiness
The Happiness Research Institute
& Nordic Council of Ministers, 2018
It is true that we in the Nordic countries are generally happier than people in the rest of the world, but there are also people in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden who describe themselves as struggling or even suffering.
This report analyses which factors are the most significant in determining why some people in the Nordic region are happy, while others are struggling or suffering. The study also analyses which groups of people are most often struggling or suffering. Finally, the report discusses the potential consequences for our society.
World Psoriasis Happiness Report 2018
The Happiness Research Institute
& Leo Innovation Lab, 2018
The World Psoriasis Happiness Report 2018 continues to explore the impact that living with self-reported psoriasis has on happiness. The report aims to facilitate the development and exchange of ideas and policy initiatives to improve the lives of more than 125 million people living with psoriasis around the world.
This report analyses input we have received on surveys delivered through PsoHappy and explores different aspects of living with self-reported psoriasis from 79,636 users in 21 countries
Job Satisfaction Index 2018
The Happiness Research Institute, 2018
The Job Satisfaction Index 2018 is a study of the Danes´ perception of mastering at work. Mastering is one of seven factors, which particularly affects the Danes´ experience of well-being and job satisfaction.
In the third version of the Job Satisfaction Index, new case studies are introduced that provide tools and enhanced knowledge about the job satisfaction of Danes. The report's findings are supplemented with opinions from leading experts and practitioners about their respective fields.
World Psoriasis Happiness Report 2017
The Happiness Research Institute
& Leo Innovation Lab, 2017
Psoriasis is a common, chronic autoimmune disease that affects an estimated 125 million people worldwide.
The World Psoriasis Happiness Report 2017 aims to shed light on what impacts the subjective well-being of people living with psoriasis.
We received input from 121,800 people with self-reported psoriasis across 184 countries on a wide spectrum of validated well-being indicators like stress, social support and loneliness.
How to improve quality of life for young people
The Happiness Research Institute, 2017 (In Danish)
Since 2012 Denmark has topped the happiness rankings in the World Happiness Report commissioned by the United Nations. Now the Happiness Research Institute have carried out a study commissioned by Nordea-fonden that focus specifically on young people in Denmark. The study aims to explore the factors that loom large in their lives and identify the social forces that shape their happiness.
Job Satisfaction Index 2017
The Happiness Research Institute, 2017
In this version of the Job Satisfaction Index our urge to discover and explore will also bring us to the limits of work life and job satisfaction.
We are among other going to discover the resources that exist within the co-workers at the limit of the work life, explore what the travel to work signifies for job satisfaction, and what happens when job satisfaction is replaced by stress.
Job Satisfaction Index 2016
The Happiness Research Institute, 2016
What drives well-being at work? Why are some employees happier than others? This report gives insight in how much our managers, results and our sense of purpose matter for well-being at work. Our jobs can - and should - be a source of joy, if workplaces are designed right.
The study shows that we can now explain 71 percent of the differences in job satisfaction with six factors. The study was produced in a partnership among the trade union Krifa and The Happiness Research Institute.
Sustainable Happiness
The Happiness Research Institute, 2015
The World Happiness Report 2012, commissioned by the United Nations, noted that the tools of happiness research have the potential to recast the debate between economic growth and environmental protection.
Moreover, it calls for an exploration of the established links between happiness and environmental sustainability. This report is an attempt to answer that call.
European Happiness Equality Index
The Happiness Research Institute, 2015
Happiness rankings are usually based on averages. But one thing is the happiness average, another is how happiness is distributed. With this groundbreaking index – the first of its kind in the World - The Happiness Research Institute would like to introduce the concept of well-being equality.
We hope to improve the debate about equality and increase our understanding of the consequences of inequality in society.
The Facebook Experiment
The Happiness Research Institute, 2015
Does social media affect the quality of our lives? When we evaluate our lives, we are influence by social comparisons. How am I doing compared to my peers? Since social media is a constant flow of great news for other people, we wanted to conduct an experiment where a randomised trial group did not log on to Facebook for one week. This report presents the results of the experiment.
Job Satisfaction Index 2015
The Happiness Research Institute, 2015
What drives well-being at work? Why are some employees happier than others? This report gives insight in how much our managers, results and our sense of purpose matter for well-being at work. Our jobs can - and should - be a source of joy, if workplaces are designed right. The study shows that we can now explain 71 percent of the differences in job satisfaction with six factors.
The study was produced in a partnership among the trade union Krifa and The Happiness Research Institute.
The Happy Danes
The Happiness Research Institute, 2014
Denmark is often named the world’s happiest country. But what are the reasons for the high levels of happiness in Denmark? For the first time, the reasons are explained in this comprehensive report. “The Happy Danes – Exploring the reasons behind the high levels of happiness in Denmark” explains how a strong civil society, a good work-life balance, and a high level of social security are causes of happiness.
Happiness Survey - Dragør 2013
The Happiness Research Institute, 2014
Together with the Happiness Research Institute, the town of Dragør, just outside Copenhagen, has published a happiness survey. Looking at different dimensions of happiness and quality of life among the citizens, this report identifies challenges and opportunities for the town to raise the level of subjective well-being among the citizens.