Wellbeing
Happiness
4 questions · 1 min
This very short questionnaire asks how happy you consider yourself in general. It includes two direct questions and two short descriptions of a happy and a less happy person, asking how much each one is like you.
It’s about your overall sense of happiness rather than how you feel today. Looking at how it changes over time is the most useful way to use it.
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What it shows
How happy you consider yourself overall.
What it doesn’t
A diagnosis, or a comparison with the wider population.
Who it’s for
This is for you if you’re curious how happy you consider yourself in general, rather than how today has gone. It suits anyone who wants a quick, simple measure to come back to.
It can be especially useful if you’re trying changes that might lift your wellbeing, like more sleep, more movement or more time with people. Taking it every few weeks lets you see whether your overall sense of happiness moves.
Questions people ask
What does the Subjective Happiness Scale measure?
It measures how happy you consider yourself overall, in your own eyes. Two questions ask you directly, and two describe a happy and a less happy person and ask how much each sounds like you.
How long does it take?
About a minute. There are four questions, each answered on a scale from 1 to 7.
How is it scored?
Your four answers are averaged to give a score between 1 and 7, with the question about the less happy person counted in reverse. Higher means you see yourself as happier. There are no official cut-offs, so your result is described as low, middle or high within that range.
Does it compare me with other people?
No. Your score shows how you see yourself, not how you rank against the wider population. It’s most useful when you compare it with your own earlier results.
How often can I retake it?
Every four weeks or so. Your overall sense of happiness tends to change more slowly than your mood on a given day, so a monthly check is plenty.
What if my score is low?
A low score isn’t a judgement of you, and happiness can change. If you’ve felt unhappy for a while, or it’s affecting your sleep, work or relationships, talking to a doctor or someone you trust is a good next step.
Where it comes from
Developed by psychologists Sonja Lyubomirsky and Heidi Lepper and published in 1999.
Subjective Happiness Scale
On iPhone or iPad?
Sprout is an app there too, and this link opens the test straight away if you have it.
Coming soon to the App Store