Positive psychology data sources

In Pollyanna's Revenge, we discuss data comparing happiness across nations and across different cities in the US. The fact that such data even exists reflect on a recognition by international share holders (Gallup, United Nations) that subjective well being matters. The call for such data was made over 15 years ago and it is exciting to see the importance of happiness and mental health being recognized on a global scale. 

Below, I list three organizations that collect such data, some of which you can even access.

As a psychology instructor, I have used this data in the classroom to argue for the utility of oft-minimized "psychology of happiness". As a statistics instructor, who doesn't love a monster data set to throw at students?


1) Gallup Well Being Data

The Gallup, Inc., famed collectors of all kinds of data, conducts well-being polling.

Some of my favorite features: 

a) Thrive

Information on the changing nature/improvements made to how Gallup surveys SWB.

b) The Gallup-Healthways Wellbeing Index

For every week, get a sense of how Americans are feeling.

c) You can download their data. 

d) Here are some interesting interactive tables about the well being data for specific American cities.

2) The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has also developed measures of subjective well being as well as other non-economic measures of well-being (including health, civil engagement, and community) with its Better Life Index. I like this website because the data is highly interactive and, again, you can download different data sets.

3) United Nations World Happiness Report

The UN has a Sustainable Development Solutions Network. First, a bit on the Network:

"Launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in August 2012, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) mobilizes scientific and technical expertise from academia, civil society, and the private sector in support of sustainable development problem solving at local, national, and global scales. We aim to accelerate joint learning and help to overcome the compartmentalization of technical and policy work by promoting integrated approaches to the interconnected economic, social, and environmental challenges confronting the world. The SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, the private sector, and civil society."

Under the banner of this network is the research arm that studies happiness in different nations. The first World Happiness Report was release just in 2012 (again, demonstrating how this trend is more recently being embraced).

In addition to route data, there is commentary about the importance of happiness. Some of the chapters of the report include Chapter 5: Restoring virtue ethics in the quest for happiness as well as Chapter 6: Using well-being as a guide to policy.

-Jess Hartnett