Where to get more information on how to be happy.
The information for this topic was taken from the following sources. These reports generally define happiness as day-to-day happiness, life satisfaction as relating to the whole of life, and wellbeing as encompassing these two terms, plus (perhaps) health and other values, but I have not been strict in my use of these terms.
The World Values Survey
The World Values Survey shows the variation in wellbeing across 65 countries that include 80% of the world's population. Worth looking at are:
- Subjective well-being rankings of 82 societies by R Inglehart
- Genes, Culture, Democracy and Happiness by Inglehart and Klingemann
This report shows that people in 90% of countries surveyed are generally happy,and about 75% of people worldwide are satisfied and happy with their lives. The more wealthy, democratic, formerly protestant countries of Europe generally score the highest, whereas most former communist countries score lowest.
- Modernization, cultural change and the persistence of traditional values by Inglehart & Baker
- You can read summaries of the survey's findings, view the actual data, download data files or analyse it online, and read many other pubications.
The Australian Unity Wellbeing Survey
The Wellbeing Index is based on interviews with thousands of Australians over the last few years. Information is published in reports on the website and a summary of all data from May 2005 to October 2009 is available.
The Australia Institute
An Australian think tank has studied and reported on happiness and material prosperity:
Religion & Society Research
This UK research organisation has published many papers on religion, society and happiness:
Positive Psychology
A new branch of psychology which focuses on helping people live happier lives:
More about positive psychology ....
Other reports & articles
- You'll never be happier, but keep working at it. Ross Gittins, Sydney Morning Herald, October 3, 2009.
- Key to happiness? Be kind, exercise.. Hannah Booth, Sydney Morning Herald, September 10, 2009.
- We're richer but not happier. Adele Horin. Sydney Morning Herald. 16 September 2006.
- Hunting for happiness ABC Science Show, August 2006.
- No laughing matter Pilita Clark, July 2006.
- How to be happy. Ross Gittins. Sydney Morning Herald, 4 January 2006.
- Britain's happiness in decline. BBC News, May 2006.
- Happy ever after.... Julia Stuart. The Independent, 3 January 2005 (edited version in Cape Times).
- Activity is the goods for true satisfaction. Ross Gittins. Sydney Morning Herald 18 February 2004.
- An unhappiness you can measure. J Bailey. Sydney Morning Herald, 7 November 2003.
- Can't buy me love. Nick Galvin. Sydney Morning Herald, 16 April 2003.
- Old ways of finding happiness still work: Richard Eckersley, Canberra Times, March 2003.
- Social capital - values and time use. Roger Patulny. Paper presented at Australia Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne, February 2003.
- Money counts but happiness lies elsewhere. Adele Horin.Sydney Morning Herald, 2 November 2002.
- Psychologists now know what makes people happy. Marilyn Elias. USA Today, October 2002.
- How to be happy and well rather than sad and sick. William J. Cromie, Harvard University, 2002.
- That's all well and good. Richard Eckersley. Sydney Morning Herald, 30 June-1 July 2001.
- Democracy makes people happy. Royal Economic Society, October 2000.