Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Measuring Wellbeing: How and Why?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Positive Psychology in the Middle East/North Africa

Abstract

A focus on wellbeing and happiness in social discourse has necessarily raised questions about how to appropriately measure and manage wellbeing, and about the validity of reported subjective experiences. Historically, objective measures have monopolized the arena of wellbeing, as it was believed that a single measure, like GDP, income, education, or crime rates accurately reflected a state of psychosocial prosperity in nations. More recently, a sole reliance on such indicators is increasingly being discouraged. Governments are urged to consider wellbeing and happiness a public good and not a private individual matter. In this chapter we discuss why it is important to measure the subjective aspects of wellbeing and how a theoretical orientation can help in this regard. We propose tools to develop a dashboard and present a number of best practise recommendations gleaned from the empirical literature. While we target recommendations at government bodies, we encourage corporations, organizations, educational institutions, and health care providers to follow suit and include the collection of wellbeing data in their efforts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aan het Rot, M., Hogenelst, K., & Schoevers, R. A. (2012). Mood disorders in everyday life: A systematic review of experience sampling and ecological momentary assessment studies. Clinical Psychology Review, 32(6), 510–523.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abbott, R. A., Ploubidis, G. B., Huppert, F. A., Kuh, D., Wadsworth, M. E., & Croudace, T. J. (2006). Psychometric evaluation and predictive validity of Ryff’s psychological wellbeing items in a UK birth cohort sample of women. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 4, 76.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Adler, A., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2016). Using wellbeing for public policy: Theory, measurement, and recommendations. International Journal of Wellbeing, 6(1), 1–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahuvia, A. C. (2002). Individualism/collectivism and cultures of happiness: A theoretical conjecture on the relationship between consumption, culture and subjective wellbeing at the national level. Journal of Happiness Studies, 3(1), 23–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alcock, I., White, M. P., Wheeler, B. W., Fleming, L. E., & Depledge, M. H. (2014). Longitudinal effects on mental health of moving to greener and less green urban areas. Environmental Science and Technology, 48(2), 1247–1255.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Areepattamannil, S., & Hashim, J. (2017). The Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Wellbeing (QEWB): Psychometric properties in a non-western adolescent sample. Personality and Individual Differences, 117, 236–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Astell-Burt, T., Feng, X., & Kolt, G. S. (2013). Does access to neighbourhood green space promote a healthy duration of sleep? Novel findings from a cross-sectional study of 259 319 Australians. British Medical Journal Open, 3, e003094.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakker, A., Burger, M., van Haren, P., Oerlemans, W., & Veenhoven, R. (2015). Happiness raised by raising awareness: Effect of happiness using the happiness indicator. EHERO Working Paper 2015/01 310714-01. Retrieved from https://personal.eur.nl/veenhoven/Pub2010s/2015i-full.pdf.

  • Ballas, D., & Dorling, D. (2013). The geography of happiness. In S. A. David, I. Boniwell & A. Conley Ayers (Eds.), Oxford handbook of happiness (pp. 465–481). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballas, D., & Tranmer, M. (2012). Happy people or happy places? A multilevel modeling approach to the analysis of happiness and wellbeing. International Regional Science Review, 35(1), 70–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R. F., Vohs, K. D., & Funder, D. C. (2007). Psychology as the science of self-reports and finger movements: Whatever happened to actual behavior? Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2, 396–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Brown, G. K. (1996). Manual for the Beck Depression Inventory-II. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Garbin, M. G. (1988). Psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory: Twenty-five years of evaluation. Clinical Psychology Review, 8(1), 77–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benzarti, S., Beshears, J., Milkman, K., Sunstein, C. R., Thaler, R. H., Shankar, M., … Galing, S. (2017). Should governments invest more in nudging? Psychological Science, 28(8), 1041–1055.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binder, M. (2014). Subjective wellbeing capabilities: Bridging the gap between the capability approach and subjective wellbeing research. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15(5), 1197–1217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Black, A. E., & Deci, E. L. (2000). The effects of instructors’ autonomy support and students’ autonomous motivation on learning organic chemistry: A self-determination theory perspective. Science Education, 84, 740–756.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronsteen, J., Buccafusco, C., & Masur, J. S. (2014). Wellbeing and public policy. Coase-Sandor Working Paper Series in Law and Economics No. 707. Retrieved from http://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2395&context=law_and_economics.

  • Cacioppo, J. T., Hawkley, L. C., & Berntson, G. G. (2003). The anatomy of loneliness. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 12, 71–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canaviri, J. A. (2016). Measuring the concept of “wellbeing”: A first approach for Bolivia. International Journal of Wellbeing, 6(1), 36–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capaldi, C. A., Dopko, R. L., & Zelenski, J. M. (2014). The relationship between nature connectedness and happiness: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 976.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Capaldi, C. A., Passmore, H.-A., Nisbet, E. K., Zelenski, J. M., & Dopko, R. L. (2015). Flourishing in nature: A review of the benefits of connecting with nature and its application as a wellbeing intervention. International Journal of Wellbeing, 5, 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlisle, S., Henderson, G., & Hanlon, P. (2009). ‘Wellbeing’: A collateral casualty of modernity? Social Science and Medicine, 69, 1556–1560.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cervinka, R., Röderer, K., & Hefler, E. (2012). Are nature lovers happy? On various indicators of wellbeing and connectedness with nature. Journal of Health Psychology, 17, 379–388.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chartier, M. J., Finlayson, G., Prior, H., McGowan, K.-L., Chen, H., Walld, R., & De Rocquigny, J. (2014). Are there mental health differences between francophone and non-francophone populations in Manitoba? Canadian Journal of Psychiatry/Revue Canadienne de Psychiatrie, 59(7), 366–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coffey, J. K., Wray-Lake, L., Mashek, D., & Branand, B. (2014). A multi-study examination of wellbeing theory in college and community samples. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17(1), 187–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooke, P. J., Melchert, T. P., & Connor, K. (2016). Measuring wellbeing: A review of instruments. Counseling Psychologist, 44(5), 730–757.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cromby, J. (2011). The greatest gift? Happiness, governance, and psychology. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 5(11), 840–852.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, R. A., Eckersley, R., Pallant, J., Van Vugt, J., & Misajon, R. (2003). Developing a national index of subjective wellbeing: The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index. Social Indicators Research, 64(2), 159–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E. (1984). Subjective wellbeing. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542–575.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Lucas, R. E. (2015). National accounts of subjective wellbeing. American Psychologist, 70(3), 234–242.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Ryan, K. (2009). Subjective wellbeing: A general overview. South African Journal of Psychology, 39(4), 391–406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Beyond money: Toward an economy of wellbeing. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 5(10), 1–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Tay, L. (2016). New frontiers: Societal measures of subjective wellbeing for input to policy. In L. Bruni & P. L. Porta (Eds.), Handbook of research methods and applications in happiness and quality of life (pp. 35–52). Northhampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Tay, L., & Myers, D. G. (2011). The religion paradox: If religion makes people happy, why are so many dropping out? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(6), 1278–1290.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Tov, W., Kim-Prieto, C., Choi, D.-W., Oishi, S., et al. (2009). New measures of wellbeing: Flourishing and positive and negative feelings. Social Indicators Research, 39, 247–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Tov, W., Kim-Prieto, C., Choi, D.-W., Oishi, S., et al. (2010). New wellbeing measures: Short scales to assess flourishing and positive and negative feelings. Social Indicators Research, 97, 143–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolan, P., & Kavetsos, G. (2016). Happy talk: Mode of administration effects on subjective wellbeing. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17(3), 1273–1291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donovan, G. H., Michael, Y. L., Butry, D. T., Sullivan, A. D., & Chase, J. M. (2011). Urban trees and the risk of poor birth outcomes. Health Place, 17, 390–393.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dwairy, M., Achoui, M., Abouserie, R., & Farah, A. (2006). Parenting styles, individuation, and mental health of Arab adolescents: A third cross-regional research study. Journal of Cross Cultural Psychology, 37(3), 262–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Epley, D. R., & Mohan, M. (2008). A method of assembling cross-sectional indicators into a community quality-of-life. Social Indicators Research, 88, 281–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, B. F., Zimmerman, E., Woolf, S. H., & Haley, A. D. (2012). Social determinants of health and crime in post-Katrina Orleans Parish. Richmond, USA: Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Human Needs. Retrieved from http://www.societyhealth.vcu.edu/media/society-health/pdf/PMReport_Orleans_Parish.pdf.

  • Forgeard, M. J. C., Jayawickreme, E., Kern, M., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Doing the right thing: Measuring wellbeing for public policy. International Journal of Wellbeing, 1(1), 79–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fortin, N., Helliwell, J. F., & Wang, S. (2015). How does subjective wellbeing vary around the world by gender and age? In J. F. Helliwell, R. Layard, & J. Sachs (Eds.), World Happiness Report 2015 (pp. 42–71). New York, NY: Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frey, B. S., & Stutzer, A. (2007). Should national happiness be maximized? Zurich IEER Working Paper No. 306. Retrieved from http://econpapers.repec.org/paper/crawpaper/2006-26.htm.

  • Frey, B. S., & Stutzer, A. (2017). Public choice and happiness. CREMA: Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts Working Paper No. 2017-03. Retrieved from http://www.crema-research.ch/papers/2017-03.pdf.

  • Gagné, M., & Deci, E. L. (2005). Self-determination theory and work motivation. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 4, 331–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gallup. (2017). Gallup 2017 global emotions report. Retrieved from http://news.gallup.com/reports/212648/gallup-global-emotions-report-2017.aspx.

  • Gander, F., Proyer, R. T., & Ruch, W. (2016). Positive psychology interventions addressing pleasure, engagement, meaning, positive relationships, and accomplishment increase wellbeing and ameliorate depressive symptoms: A randomized, placebo-controlled online study. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, Article 686.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, F. R., Disabato, D. J., Kashdan, T. B., & Kauffman, S. B. (2018). Measuring wellbeing: A comparison of subjective wellbeing and PERMA. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 13(4), 321–332.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gropper, D. M., Lawson, R. A., & Thorne, J. T., Jr. (2011). Economic freedom and happiness. The Cato Journal, 31, 237–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gruman, J. A., Lumley, M. N., & Gonzalez-Morales, M. G. (2018). Incorporating balance: Challenges and opportunities for positive psychology. Canadian Psychology, 59(1), 54–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gundlach, E., & Opfinger, M. (2011). Religiosity as a determinant of happiness. GIGA, German Institute of Global and Area Studies Working Paper No. 163. Retrieved from http://repec.giga-hamburg.de/pdf/giga_11_wp163_gundlach-opfinger.pdf.

  • Hart, K. E., & Sasso, T. (2011). Mapping the contours of contemporary positive psychology. Canadian Psychology, 52(2), 82–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helliwell, J. F., & Barrington-Leigh, C. P. (2010). Measuring and understanding subjective wellbeing. Canadian Journal of Economics, 43(3), 729–753.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helliwell, J. F., Layard, R., & Sachs, J. (2012). Some policy implications. In J. Helliwell, R. Layard & J. Sachs (Eds.), World Happiness Report (pp. 90–107). Retrieved from http://worldhappiness.report/download/.

  • Henry, J. D., & Crawford, J. R. (2005). The short-form version of the depression anxiety stress scales (DASS-21): Construct validity and normative data in a large non-clinical sample. The British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 44(Part 2), 227–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hervás, G. (2017). The limits of positive interventions. Papeles del Psicólogo/Psychologist Papers, 38(1), 42–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 227–237.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • International Wellbeing Group. (2006). Personal Wellbeing Index (4th ed.) Melbourne, Australia: Australian Centre on Quality of Life, Deakin University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ivtzan, I., Lomas, T., Worth, P., & Hefferon, K. (2015). Second-wave positive psychology: Embracing the dark side of life. London, UK: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Jibeen, T., & Khalid, R. (2012). Cross validation of Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Wellbeing: Translation into Urdu language. The International Journal of Educational and Psychological Assessment, 10(2), 67–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joseph, S., & Wood, A. (2010). Assessment of positive functioning in clinical psychology: Theoretical and practical issues. Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 830–838.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Joshanloo, M. (2013). The influence of fear of happiness beliefs on responses to the satisfaction with life scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 54(5), 647–651.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joshanloo, M. (2017). Factor structure and criterion validity of original and short versions of the Negative and Positive Affect Scale (NAPAS). Personality and Individual Differences, 105, 233–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joshanloo, M. (2018). Optimal human functioning around the world: A new index of eudaimonic well-being in 166 nations. British Journal of Psychology, 109(4), 637–655.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Joshanloo, M., Lepshokova, Z. K., Panyusheva, T., Natalia, A. Poon, W. C., Yeung, V. W., …, Jiang, D. (2014). Cross-cultural validation of the fear of happiness scale across 14 national groups. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 45(2), 246–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joshanloo, M., Rostami, R., & Nosratabadi, M. (2006). Examining the factor structure of the Keyes’ comprehensive scale of wellbeing. Journal of Iranian Psychologists, 9, 35–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joshanloo, M., Weijers, D., Jiang, D.-Y., Han, G., Bae, J., Pang, J., …, Amerkhanova, N. (2015). Fragility of happiness beliefs across 15 national groups. Journal of Happiness Studies, 16, 1185–1210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman, D., Krueger, A. B., Schkade, D., Schwarz, N., & Stone, A. A. (2004). A survey method for characterizing daily life experience: The Day Reconstruction Method (DRM). Science, 306, 1776–1780.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kavetsos, G., Dimitriadou, M., & Dolan, P. (2014). Measuring happiness: Context matters. Applied Economics Letters, 21(5), 308–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kern, M. L., Waters, L. E., Adler, A., & White, M. A. (2015). A multidimensional approach to measuring wellbeing in students: Application of the PERMA framework. Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(3), 262–271.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L. M. (1998). Social wellbeing. Social Psychology Quarterly, 61(2), 121–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L. M. (2002). The mental health continuum: From languishing to flourishing in life. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 43, 207–222.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L. M. (2005). Mental illness and/or mental health? Investigating axioms of the complete state model of health. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 539–548.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L. M., Wissing, M., Potgieter, J., Temane, M., Kruger, A., & Rooy, S. (2008). Evaluation of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) in Swetsana-speaking South Africans. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 15, 181–192.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kinderman, P. (2015, September 28). Why are governments interested in our wellbeing? World Economic Forum. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/09/why-are-governments-interested-in-our-wellbeing/.

  • Kitayama, S., & Uskul, A. K. (2011). Culture, mind, and the brain: Current evidence and future directions. Annual Review of Psychology, 62(1), 419–449.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kurtz, J. L., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). Towards a durable happiness. In S. J. Lopez & J. G. Rettew (Eds.), The positive psychology perspective series (Vol. 4, pp. 21–36). Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, L., D’Cruz, A., Schlatter, M., & Barron, F. (2016). Using physical activity to tackle depression: The neglected positive psychology intervention. Middle East Journal of Positive Psychology, 2(1), 42–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert D’raven, L., & Pasha-Zaidi, N. (2015). Happiness in the United Arab Emirates: Conceptualizations of happiness among Emirati and Other Arab students. International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2(1), 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, L., Passmore, H.-A., & Holder, M. (2015). Foundational frameworks of positive psychology: Mapping wellbeing orientations. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne, 56(3), 311–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, L., Passmore, H.-A., & Joshanloo, M. (2018). A positive psychology intervention program in a culturally diverse university: Boosting happiness and reducing fear. Journal of Happiness Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-9993-z.

  • Lamers, S. M. A., Westerhof, G. J., Bohlmeijer, E. T., ten Klooster, P. M., & Keyes, C. L. M. (2010). Evaluating the psychometric properties of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF). Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67, 99–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larson, R., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1983). The experience sampling method. New Directions for Methodology of Social and Behavioral Science, 15, 41–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Layous, K., Lee, H., Choi, I., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2013). Culture matters when designing a successful happiness-increasing activity: A comparison of the United States and South Korea. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 44, 1294–1303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, F., Bai, X., & Wang, Y. (2013). The Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE): Psychometric properties and normative data in a large Chinese sample. PLoS ONE, 8(4), e61137.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Linton, M., Dieppe, P., & Medina-Lara, A. (2016). Review of 99 self-report measures for assessing wellbeing in adults: Exploring dimensions of wellbeing and developments over time. British Medical Journal Open, 6, e010641.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyubomirsky, S., & Lepper, H. (1999). A measure of subjective happiness: Preliminary reliability and construct validation. Social Indicators Research, 46, 137–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maas, J., Verheij, R. A., Groenewegen, P. P., de Vries, S., & Spreeuwenberg, P. (2006). Green space, urbanity, and health: How strong is the relation? Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 60, 587–592.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, F. S., & McPherson Frantz, C. (2004). The connectedness to nature scale: A measure of individuals’ feeling in community with nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 24, 503–515.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mensah, C. A., Andres, L., Perera, U., & Roji, A. (2016). Enhancing quality of life through the lens of green spaces: A systematic review approach. International Journal of Wellbeing, 6(1), 142–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moghnie, L., & Kazarian, S. (2012). Subjective happiness of Lebanese college youth in Lebanon: Factorial structure and invariance of the Arabic Subjective Happiness Scale. Social Indicators Research, 109(2), 203–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mroczek, D. K., & Kolarz, C. M. (1998). The effect of age on positive and negative affect: A developmental perspective on happiness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(5), 1333–1349.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Musikanski, L., Polley, C., Cloutier, S., Berejnoi, E., & Colbert, J. (2017). Happiness in communities: How neighborhoods, cities and states use subjective wellbeing metrics. Journal of Social Change, 9(1), 32–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mytton, O. T., Townsend, N., Rutter, H., & Foster, C. (2012). Green space and physical activity: An observational study using Health Survey for England data. Health Place, 18(5), 1034–1041.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Nikolova, M. (2016). Happiness and development. IZA Discussion Paper No. 10088. Retrieved from https://ssrn.com/abstract=2819369.

  • Nisbet, E. K., Zelenski, J. M., & Murphy, S. A. (2009). The nature relatedness scale: Linking individuals’ connection with nature to environmental concern and behavior. Environment and Behavior, 41, 715–740.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Donnell, G. (2013). Using wellbeing as a guide to policy. In J. Helliwell, R. Layard & J. Sachs (Eds.), World Happiness Report 2013 (pp. 98–111). Retrieved from http://unsdsn.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/WorldHappinessReport2013_online.pdf.

  • Oishi, S., Schimmack, U., & Diener, E. (2012). Progressive taxation and the subjective wellbeing of nations. Psychological Science, 23, 86–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2008). Handbook on constructing composite indicators: Methodology and Guide. Paris, France: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2013). OECD guidelines on measuring subjective wellbeing. Paris, France: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved from http://www.oecd.org/statistics/oecd-guidelines-on-measuring-subjective-wellbeing-9789264191655-en.htm.

  • Ott, J. C. (2011). Government and happiness in 130 nations: Good governance fosters higher level and more equality of happiness. Social Indicators Research, 102(1), 3–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paralkar, S., Cloutier, S., Nautiyal, S., & Mitra, R. (2017). The sustainable neighborhoods for happiness (SNfH) decision tool: Assessing neighborhood level sustainability and happiness. Ecological Indicators, 74, 10–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K. I., & Raiya, H. A. (2007). A decade of research on the psychology of religion and coping: Things we assumed and lessons we learned. Psyche and Logos, 282, 742–766.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavot, W., & Diener, E. (1993). The affective and cognitive context of self-reported measures of subjective wellbeing. Social Indicators Research, 28(1), 1–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pawelski, J. O. (2016). Defining the ‘positive’ in positive psychology: Part II: A normative analysis. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11, 357–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plante, T. G., Vallaeys, C. L., Sherman, A. C., & Wallston, K. A. (2002). The development of a brief version of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire. Pastoral Psychology, 50(2), 359–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pykett, J., & Cromby, J. (2017). Mapping happiness, managing urban emotions. In V. Higgins & W. Larner (Eds.), Assembling neoliberalism: Expertise, practices, subjects (pp. 195–216). USA: Palgrave MacMillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M., Bernstein, J. H., & Brown, K. W. (2010). Weekends, work, and wellbeing: Psychological need satisfactions and day of the week effects on mood, vitality, and physical symptoms. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 29, 95–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and wellbeing. American Psychologist, 55, 68–78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological wellbeing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salama-Younes, M. (2011). Validation of the Mental Health Continuum Short Form and Subjective Vitality Scale with Egyptian adolescent athletes. In I. Brdar (Ed.), The human pursuit of wellbeing: A cultural approach (pp. 221–234). Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salama-Younes, M. (2017). Psychometric properties of the Psychological Flourishing Scale in an Egyptian setting. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 27(4), 310–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schram, T. (2006). Conceptualizing and proposing qualitative research (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Merrill-Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, H. A., Eichstaedt, J. C., Kern, M. L., Dziurzynski, L., Ramones, S. M., Agrawal, M., …, Ungar, L. H. (2013). Personality, gender, and age in the language of social media: The open-vocabulary approach. PLoS ONE, 8(9), e73791.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz, N., & Strack, F. (1999). Reports of subjective wellbeing: Judgmental processes and their methodological implications. In D. Kahneman, E. Diener, & N. Schwarz (Eds.), Wellbeing: The foundations of hedonic psychology (pp. 61–84). New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. New York, NY: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and wellbeing. New York, NY: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva, A., & Caetano, A. (2013). Validation of the Flourishing Scale and Scale of Positive and Negative Experience in Portugal. Social Indicators Research, 110, 469–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006). The Meaning in Life Questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53, 80–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steptoe, A., Wardle, J., & Marmot, M. (2005). Positive affect and health-related neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and inflammatory processes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 102, 6508–6512.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Stiglitz, J., Sen, A., & Fitoussi, J.-P. (2009). The measurement of economic performance and social progress revisited. Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress, Paris. Retrieved from http://www.ofce.sciences-po.fr/pdf/dtravail/WP2009-33.pdf.

  • Takano, T., Nakamura, K., & Watanabe, M. (2002). Urban residential environments and senior citizens’ longevity in megacity areas: The importance of walkable green spaces. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 56, 913–918.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Tay, L., Chan, D., & Diener, E. (2014). The metrics of societal happiness. Social Indicators Research, 117, 577–600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tay, L., Herian, M., & Diener, E. (2014). Detrimental effects of corruption and subjective wellbeing: Whether, how, and when. Social Psychological & Personality Science, 5, 751–759.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thin, N. (2011). Socially responsible cheermongery: On the sociocultural contexts and levels of social happiness policies. In R. Biswas-Diener (Ed.), Positive psychology as a mechanism for social change (pp. 33–49). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, J., Mutawa, M., Furber, S. W., & Grey, I. (2016). Religiosity: Reducing depressive symptoms amongst Muslim females in the United Arab Emirates. Middle East Journal of Positive Psychology, 2(1), 9–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiliouine, H., Cummins, R. A., & Davern, M. (2006). Measuring wellbeing in developing countries: The case of Algeria. Social Indicators Research, 75(1), 1–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toftager, M., Ekholm, O., Schipperijn, J., Stigsdotter, U., Bentsen, P., Grønbæk, M., … Kamper-Jørgensen, F. (2011). Distance to green space and physical activity: A Danish national representative survey. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 8(6), 741–749.

    Google Scholar 

  • Triandis, H. C., & Gelfland, M. J. (1998). Converging measurement of horizontal and vertical individualism and collectivism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 118–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villeneuve, P. J., Jerrett, M., Su, J. G., Burnett, R. T., Chen, H., Wheeler, A. J., et al. (2012). A cohort study relating urban green space with mortality in Ontario, Canada. Environmental Research, 115, 51–58.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Villieux, A., Sovet, L., Jung, S.-C., & Guilbert, L. (2016). Psychological flourishing: Validation of the French version of the Flourishing Scale and exploration of its relationships with personality traits. Personality and Individual Differences, 88, 1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vlaev, I., King, D., Dolan, P., & Darzi, A. (2016). The theory and practice of “nudging”: Changing health behaviors. Public Administration Review, 76(4), 550–561.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, J., & Schmuecker, K. (2012). Shifting the dial: From wellbeing measures to policy practice. Retrieved from https://www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/carnegieuktrust/wp-content/uploads/sites/64/2016/02/pub1455011624.pdf.

  • Wang, Y.-P., & Gorenstein, C. (2013). Psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory-II: A comprehensive review. Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, 35(4), 416–431.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Waterman, A., Schwartz, S., Zamboanga, B. Y., Robert, R., Williams, M., Bede Agocha, V., …, Donnellan, M. B. (2010). The Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Wellbeing: Psychometric properties, demographic comparisons, and evidence of validity. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(1), 41–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weijers, D. M. (2014). National accounts that make governments more efficient by making them more accountable. Retrieved from http://www.danweijers.com/.

  • Weijers, D. M., & Jarden, A. (2013). The science of happiness for policymakers: An overview. Journal of Social Research and Policy, 4(2), 21–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, S. C. (2009). Analyzing wellbeing: A framework for development practice. Working paper. Bath: University of Bath/Wellbeing in Developing Countries Research Group. (Wellbeing in Developing Countries (WeD) Working Papers; WeD Working Paper 09). Retrieved from http://opus.bath.ac.uk/13944/.

  • Whiteoak, J. W., Crawford, N. G., & Mapstone, R. H. (2006). Impact of gender and generational differences in work values in an Arab culture. Thunderbird International Business Review, 48(1), 77–91, 6–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, P. T. P. (2011). Positive psychology 2.0: Towards a balanced interactive model of the good life. Canadian Psychology, 52, 69–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, A., Froh, J., & Geraghty, A. (2010). Gratitude and wellbeing: A review and theoretical integration. Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 890–905.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zeile, P., Resch, B., Exner, J.-P., & Sagl, G. (2015). Urban emotions: Benefits and risks in using human sensory assessment for extraction of contextual emotion in-formation. In S. Geertman, J. Ferreira, R. Goodspeed, & J. Stillwell (Eds.), Planning support systems and smart cities (pp. 209–225). Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE

    Louise Lambert

  2. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Lauren Hotchkiss & Holli-Anne Passmore

Authors
  1. Louise Lambert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lauren Hotchkiss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Holli-Anne Passmore
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Louise Lambert .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Editor in Chief, Middle East Journal of Positive Psychology, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Louise Lambert

  2. Department of Social Science, Houston Community College, University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, TX, USA

    Nausheen Pasha-Zaidi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Lambert, L., Hotchkiss, L., Passmore, HA. (2019). Measuring Wellbeing: How and Why?. In: Lambert, L., Pasha-Zaidi, N. (eds) Positive Psychology in the Middle East/North Africa. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13921-6_10

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation