Wellbeing in the news
Wellington College to give wellbeing lessons to parents
The Telegraph, 20 September 2010
Wellington College, the school that introduced lessons in wellbeing and positive psychology four years ago, is now extending weekend ‘taster sessions' to parents. The wellbeing classes are almost exactly like those their children receive, and will cover a selection of the topics that their children are taught during the course of the three year wellbeing programme, such as ‘resilience', ‘mindset', ‘active-constructive responding' and ‘mindfulness'.
Unemployment may not mean lower wellbeing
The Observer, 19 September 2010
New research has showed that although life satisfaction is lower amongst the unemployed population, their experienced utility over the course of the day (a measure of subjective wellbeing that assesses the emotional, affective components of happiness) is no different from that of an employed person. The study used the "day reconstruction method", developed by Nobel economics laureate Daniel Kahneman; a total of 600 employed and unemployed respondents were asked to construct a diary of the previous day, listing all the activities they engaged in and how they felt during each one. The authors argue that since the unemployed can spend more time on leisure, their unemployment hurts much less emotionally than previously thought.
Closing gap between the subjective wellbeing of black and white Americans
New York Times, 14 September 2010
Research using subjective wellbeing data from the U.S. General Social Survey has revealed that although black people still report lower happiness than white people, much of this racial gap in wellbeing has closed over the past 35 years. Measures of subjective wellbeing indicate that the wellbeing of the black population has increased both absolutely and relative to the white population; and the gains in happiness are concentrated among women and those living in the south. The authors suggest one plausible explanation for this may be the decrease in racial discrimination.
Happiness more important than wealth to charity giving
London Evening Standard.co.uk, 8 September 2010
Researchers from the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) anaylsed data from a Gallup survey to compile the World Giving Index. The research compared the strength of the relationship between giving with a nation's GDP and the happiness of its population, finding that the link between wellbeing and giving was stronger than the link between wealth and giving. The research also found that happier people were more likely to give money to charity than those who were wealthy.
The relationship between income, life satisfaction and emotional wellbeing
Nature News, 6 September 2010
Recent analysis of the daily Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index has shown that emotional wellbeing and life evaluation have different correlates. Emotional wellbeing refers to the emotional quality of someone's everyday experience whilst life satisfaction refers to how people consider their lives when they think about it. The research found that income and education are more closely related to life evaluation; but health, care-giving, loneliness, and smoking are stronger predictors of daily emotions. When life evaluation is plotted against log income, it rises steadily; although emotional wellbeing also rises with log income, there are no further gains beyond an annual income of approximately $75,000 (about £50,000). The authors conclude that high income buys life satisfaction but not happiness, and that low income is associated both with low life evaluation and low emotional wellbeing.
Should we be aiming for happiness?
The Guardian, 4 September 2010
Adam Phillips discusses whether the pursuit of happiness or the right to happiness should be the ultimate goal of society. He argues that since different things make different people happy, the social or communal pursuit of happiness is complicated. In some cases bad things can make us happy, and some people like being unhappy. Is feeling happy more important than being right or good? And aren't things that don't make us happy also important - like learning about wars and suffering? Is happiness an unrealistic ideal - if it something that is unable to be pursued - and therefore unconsciously self-destructive? Should we be viewing happiness as a lucky side effect rather than a calculable or calculated end? Is the right to frustration more useful and interesting than the right to happiness?
Wellbeing and the ‘environmentalist's paradox'
The Guardian Environmental Blog, 3 September 2010
A traditional environmentalist view is that the reduction in ecosystem services is expected to mean fewer benefits to humans, and therefore a decrease in human wellbeing. However the composite Human Development Index, a widely used measurement that incorporates metrics of literacy, life expectancy and income, shows marked improvements since the mid-1970s in both rich and poor nations (and correlates strongly with other measures of prosperousness). An article in this month's BioScience attempts to untangle this paradox, asking how wellbeing can improve despite environmental resource degradation.
Migrating in pursuit of wealth may not bring happiness
United Press International, 2 September 2010
Immigrants who move to a wealthy country may not achieve the happiness they expect from a larger income, says research by sociologist David Bartram of the University of Leicester. The study used existing data on 1,400 people from the World Values Survey and showed that although migrants do gain happiness from higher incomes (to a greater extent than natives) the relationship is weak. In fact, it also revealed that migrants are less happy than natives, perhaps because of the negative effects associated with leaving family and community.
Financial Times, 28 August 2010
Psychology studies suggest that part of the reason people struggle to find happiness is because we are bad at estimating the effects of certain events e.g. losing a job or moving house, on our level of wellbeing. This is because we tend to focus too much of our attention on the most salient features of the experience and ignore other important emotional consequences. New research suggests that happiness may lie in things we already have, such as friends and family.
iPhones used to map happiness across the UK
London Evening Standard.co.uk, 16 August 2010
Wellbeing researchers at the London School of Economics have developed an iPhone app to map happiness across the UK, called Mappiness. Once a day the app asks users how they're feeling, who they're with, where they are, what they're doing (if you're outdoors, they can also take a photo). This data is sent back, along with an approximate location from the iPhone's GPS and a noise-level measure, and will be fed into statistical models of wellbeing to see how people's happiness is affected by their local environment - air pollution, noise, green spaces etc.
Stronger social relationships reduce mortality risk
BBC News, 28 July 2010
The link between social relationships and mental health has long been established, but evidence shows that this association extends to mortality as well. A recent meta-analysis of 148 independent studies has shown that stronger social bonds increase a person's survival odds by 50%. The study argues that social relationships should be considered just as important by policy-makers as other mortality risk factors, such as smoking, lack of exercise or obesity. In fact, the effect of social relationships is roughly equivalent to 15 cigarettes a day or being an alcoholic.
Put happiness on the election agenda
The Independent, 18 January 2010
Geoff Mulgan, Director of the Young Foundation, argues that increasing the wellbeing and resilience of individuals and communities should no longer be considered an inappropriate goal for policy.
Wellbeing schemes should be top priority in recession
Children and Young People Now, 18 January 2010
A new Young Foundation report, The State of Happiness: can public policy shape people's wellbeing and resilience?, argues that initiatives that aim to increase wellbeing are not a luxury for good times but an important lens through which to design and evaluate policy.
If only we can teach resilience to those who need it
The Independent, 16 January 2010
Yvonne Roberts from the Young Foundation talks about resilience as 'ordinary magic'. And explores the different ways in which the idea of resilience is being incorporated into policy.
Why exercise makes you less anxious
New York Times, 18 November 2009
For years, both in popular imagination and in scientific circles, it has been a given that exercise enhances mood. But how exercise, a physiological activity, might directly affect mood and anxiety - psychological states - was unclear. Now, thanks in no small part to improved research techniques and a growing understanding of the biochemistry and the genetics of thought itself, scientists are beginning to tease out how exercise remodels the brain, making it more resistant to stress.
US Army's new weapon is thinking positively
The Sidney Morning Herald, 17 November 2009
Faced with rising rates of depression, post traumatic stress disorder, drug abuse and suicide among its soldiers, the Pentagon has turned to the founder of positive psychology, Martin Seligman, to train its troops to be ''just as psychologically fit as physically fit''.
A Better Measure than GDP
Time CNN, 2 November 2009
GDP has too often been used as shorthand for how well a country is doing- and it was never designed or intended to be used in this way. But although policymakers have been warning about confusing GDP with wellbeing for many decades now, GDP as a measure of progress has proved hard to replace. This article argues that the reliance on GDP isn't just misleading, it is harmful. And until we find a good replacement there is little point in marking our progress against something that is so clearly wrong.
A New Bank Holiday
The Guardian, 24 October 2009
Volunteering contributes significantly to the UK economy, boosts people’s wellbeing, makes them feel better and reduces isolation. This letter argues that these efforts should be recognised, encouraged and celebrated. 2012 marks the Queen's diamond jubilee, the London Olympics and Paralympics – events only possible thanks to volunteers. This would be the perfect year to introduce a Community Day bank holiday.
High spending fails to improve child welfare, says OECD report
The Guardian, 1 September 2009
A new OECD survey, Doing Better for Children, states that high public spending is failing to deliver results. The report suggests that the UK, although relatively well placed in the rankings overall, has high rates of teenage pregnancy, drunkenness and young people not in education, employment or training.
Boost emotional skills to help reduce drop-out rates, say academics
Times Higher Education, 25 August 2009
Recent research suggests that interventions to boost university students' "emotional intelligence" could help some students to persevere with their studies and decrease the drop-out rate.
Health and wellbeing rises up business agenda
Personnel Today, 25 August 2009
Research by the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) on employers' current thinking on wellbeing has found that investment in health and wellbeing had actually become more important during the recession, not less, for more than half of the 50 employers polled. The survey of both private and public sector firms found a clear recognition that, in difficult times, getting the most out of their people and managing absence effectively were more important than ever.
Mental stress training is planned for U.S soldiers
New York Times, 17 August 2009
The army plans to require that all 1.1. million of its soldier take training in emotional resilience. Rising suicide rates and post-traumatic stress has convinced many in the army that stronger mental health support is required. The training programme will be developed by Dr Martin Seligman at the University of Pennsylvannia, who has a long career in positive psychology. It is hoped that ongoing support and training in resilience techniques will move the army away from the current reactive model and towards a more preventative one.
New strategy to bolster mental health care
The Independent, 19 July 2009
Radical plans to prioritise preventative mental health care for all - rather than solely curative care for extreme cases- will be launched this week by the Government. For the first time ever, the focus will be on increasing the emotional resilience of individuals, families and communities.
'Alarming gap' in counselling for young
Children and Young People Now, 15 July 2009
Research conducted by Youth Access has found that more than two million 16-24 year olds experience serious social welfare problems annually. But less than half of these young people receive advice or guidance to help them overcome their difficulties.
Scheme provides test bed for apprenticeships drive
Children and Young People Now, 9 July 2009
The Young Foundation has today launched the Apprenticeship Pathfinder Project, a ground-breaking new initiative working with three local authorities to accelerate progress towards making Apprenticeships a mainstream learning route for young people aged 14-19.
Educating the ‘whole child’
Tweed Daily News, 30 June 2009
St Joseph’s Primary School in Australia has received funding from the Healthy Active Schools program to run the You Can Do It Program, a wellbeing initiative. The programme aims to go beyond reading, writing and arithmetic and will focus on social skills, organisation skills, confidence, persistence and emotional resilience.
Employee benefits summit 2009: rising stress will damage company productivity
Employee benefits, 4 June 2009
Speaking at the Employee Benefits summit, Will Cavendish, Director of health and wellbeing and the Department of Health, said that health and wellbeing programmes were all the more crucial for employers during the recession. Organisations are less able to sustain unnecessary costs such as sickness absence, and investing in staff wellbeing increases motivation and retention.
Depression costs economy £8.6bn a year
The Independent, 16 June 2009
The blight of depression affecting hundreds of thousands of people across Britain is costing the nation's ailing economy £8.6bn a year, £3bn more than a decade ago. The new figures have emerged amid calls from the Mental Health Foundation for the Government to invest more in the promotion of better awareness of mental health conditions.
New index measures the wellbeing of Canadians
CTV Toronto, 10 June 2009
An independent Canadian think tank has announced plans for a new comparative index, which its proponents say will provide Canadians with a more in-depth picture of the factors that affect their quality of life. The Canadian Index of Wellbeing will use eight areas of life – health, education, standard of living and quality of environment among them – to quantify how well Canadians are living.
Empowering young people conference
Ballymoney & Moyle Times, 13 May 2009
Nicola Bacon, Projects Director at the Young Foundation, was keynote speaker at this conference and presented examples from the Local Wellbeing Project of best practice in promoting emotional resilience in young people. The conference was organised by The Northern Ireland Association of Mental Health in Belfast and was attended by nearly 200 representatives from the Northern Ireland education sector.
Pupils bounce back with ‘happiness lessons’
The Times, 29 May 2009
The Local Wellbeing Project is pioneering 'wellbeing workshops' for 11-13 year olds in 22 schools across Hertfordshire, Manchester and South Tyneside. The UK Resilience Programme (UKRP), based on the Penn Resilience Programme developed by the University of Pennsylvania, aims to enhance the emotional literacy and resilience of 11-13 year olds. Joanna Sugden, The Times, reports on a visit to Longdean in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, one of the pilot schools. Pupils and staff at Longdean are positive about the impact of the programme on pupil wellbeing and the potential of the course to improve behaviour, attendance and academic attainment.
Resilience programme improves wellbeing of pupils in trial areas
Children and Young People Now, 30 April 2009
The Local Wellbeing Project is pioneering 'wellbeing workshops' for 11-13 year olds in 22 schools across Hertfordshire, Manchester and South Tyneside. The first evaluation report, written by LSE and supported by DCSF, suggests that the programme is having a positive impact on student wellbeing. Pupil wellbeing, behaviour, attendance and academic attainment will be monitored over three years to evaluate the longer term impacts of the programme.
Britain Among the Worst Places to Grow Up
BBC News, 21 April 2009
A league table of young people's wellbeing, compiled by researchers at York University in northern England for the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), placed Britain among the worst places to grow up. The study assessing the countries on factors such as infant mortality, poverty, housing and obesity ranked Netherlands at the top of the list while Britain was ranked only above Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta. The CPAG report follows a BBC Newsround survey of 1,000 children around the UK.
Uncertainty causes unhappiness
New York Times, May 20 2009
Research suggests that people are unhappier when something bad might occur than when they know something bad will occur. This may be because after bad news we are able to change our behaviour and attitudes accordingly, but we can't do anything about circumstances we don't yet know.
Headteachers reject plans to grade schools on new scorecard
Daily Mail, 15 March
Headteachers yesterday rejected plans to grade schools in England and Wales on a new 'scorecard'.
The scheme, similar to one being pioneered in New York, sees every school given a grade from A to E based on exam performance and pupil well-being.
Inequality is bad for your health
The guardian, 11 March
It has been acknowledged for some time that poverty can be a trigger for poor mental health, but a new study published today by the World Health Organisation (WHO) argues that it is inequality that has the most profound and far-reaching consequences for individuals and wider society.
The report's author, Lynne Friedli, contends that, to date, there has been an "undue focus on individual solutions" to mental health difficulties such as depression, when what is called for is a "social solution".
What's the ideal number of friends?
BBC News, 3 March 2009
Drawing on the US longitudinal study of students, which suggests that the wealthiest people are those that have the most friends at school, this article invites us to reflect on the optimum number of friends and opens up a broader discussion of the meaning of friendship in contemporary society.
How to be happy in life: let out your anger
The Guardian, 1 March 2009
This article discusses several pieces of research evidence, which suggest that rather than focusing on repressing anger, the emphasis should be placed on creative ways of expressing it without explosive and self-destructive consequences.
The Guardian, 3 February 2009
The Children Society-commissioned inquiry, A Good Childhood, will be launched on Wednesday 4 February. In this article Lord Layard, co-author of the report and partner of the Local Wellbeing Project, outlines the key messages of the inquiry into the current experience of childhood in the UK.
BBC News, 2 February 2009
'A Good Childhood' is the completion of the two-year inquiry, commissioned by The Children's Society. To mark the launch of the report, BBC News speaks to three youngsters to get their thoughts on what it is like to grow up in Britain today.
Britons 'bored but happy' - study
BBC News, 24 January 2009
The New Economics Foundation (Nef) has used data from more than 40,000 interviews from the 2006/07 European Social Survey to rank happiness levels across Europe. Denmark topped the research measuring overall well-being, with the UK ranked 13th out of 22 countries - just below Germany and two places above France. Nic Marks, founder of the Centre for Wellbeing at Nef, said: "Governments have lost sight of fact that their fundamental purpose is to improve the lives of their citizens".
More friends and emotional security - how northern children top the happiness league
The Guardian, 8 January 2009
This article provides an overview of a recent study that gives every local authority in England a score on five measures: the emotional health of children (how many friends they have, and how much they feel able to talk to them about problems); levels of bullying; participation in sports and volunteering; substance misuse; and how happy they are with their access to parks and play areas. The scores are based on responses from 150,000 children who took part in an annual survey conducted by Ofsted, called Tellus.
The Role of Positive Psychology
Everyday Health, 7 January 2009
Positive psychology is an emerging field recognized by the American Psychological Association, and many experts who design stress-control programs harness its principles. It focuses on determining and promoting the factors that permit people to thrive. Rather than search for the roots of unhappiness, research coming out of this field investigates the ingredients of a good life.
Health advice: 50 ways to boost your wellbeing
The Telegraph, 5 January 2009
This article compiles a list of non-conventional ways to keep our minds and bodies in shape in 2009.
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