How To Measure Wellbeing

How do you feel right now? It seems like an easy question to answer. "Pretty good, mate, you?"

But what if we asked you: How satisfied are you with your life as a whole, the politics of this country, or your health?

These questions might make you pause. They touch on something deeper – your wellbeing. It's a term we often use to describe how we feel about our lives and ourselves. However, it goes much deeper than just a simple answer of "good" or "bad".

Wellbeing encompasses our overall life satisfaction, purpose, relationships, finances, health, and more. In this blog post, we'll explore what it really means, why it matters, and how to measure wellbeing.

Understanding the dimensions of wellbeing

When it comes to wellbeing, there are many layers to unpack. Each one represents a different part of our lives that contributes to how we feel overall.

The piece you're most interested in might depend on what you're trying to achieve. Are you looking to improve your own life? Or are you a manager trying to create a happier workplace? Your focus might be different, but the basic pieces are the same.

These different aspects of wellbeing can be measured. When we put all these measurements together, we get a more complete picture. We call this "holistic" wellbeing – looking at the whole person, instead of one dimension.

Here are some of the main dimensions of wellbeing to consider:

Physical

Physical wellbeing refers to your body's health and how well it functions. It includes things like how much energy you have, how well you sleep, and whether you're free from illness or pain. This dimension covers your diet, exercise habits, and overall health.

Emotional

Emotional wellbeing refers to your ability to understand and manage your feelings. It's about how you cope with life's ups and downs, and how satisfied you feel with yourself and your life. This includes your mental health, self-esteem, and ability to handle stress. Good emotional wellbeing means you can bounce back from setbacks and find joy in everyday life.

Social

Humans are inherently social creatures. Our connections and relationships with others have profound impacts on our wellbeing. This dimension considers how connected you feel to friends, family, and your community. It's also about how well you communicate and interact with others. It may also look at your sense of belonging.

Financial

Money can't buy happiness, but it sure can reduce stress! This dimension examines income, debt levels, financial knowledge, retirement savings, homeownership, and employment.

Others

While the four dimensions we've talked about are the most common, there are other aspects of wellbeing, too. Here's a quick look at some others:

• Occupational: How satisfied and fulfilled you feel in your work or studies
• Spiritual: Your sense of purpose and connection to something bigger than yourself
• Intellectual: How much you engage in learning and creative activities
• Environmental: Your connection to and impact on the natural world around you

Approaches to measuring wellbeing

Defining and quantifying something as abstract as wellbeing certainly comes with challenges. Still, various validated tools have been developed that provide reasonably objective measures.

There are two main approaches: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative is about numbers and statistics. Qualitative is more about descriptions and experiences. Both have their strengths and weaknesses and often, using a mix of both gives the best results.

Surveys and questionnaires

One of the most popular approaches is standardised surveys and questionnaires. Platforms like SmartSurvey enable you to digitally send out customisable wellbeing surveys to a large audience with just a few clicks.

The great thing about surveys is that you can tailor them to what you need. A company might ask about job satisfaction, while a government survey might ask about how safe people feel in their neighbourhood.

We have survey templates for many of these situations, all of which can be customised.

Interviews and focus groups

For more in-depth qualitative data, interviews and focus groups come in handy. Sitting down one-on-one or with a small group (8-12 people) allows you to deeply explore wellbeing perspectives. Open-ended questions and group discussions draw out details surveys might miss.

But there are some downsides. It can take a lot of time and resources. And you might end up with a smaller group of people compared to a survey. Plus, the group might not represent everyone you want to hear from.

Observational methods

Sometimes, you don't even need to ask questions. You can learn a lot just by watching people in their natural environment.

Simply observing behaviour in natural settings can provide wellbeing insights without direct questioning. This ecological approach studies how people interact with environments, products, services, communities, and more.

This can be really useful for seeing how people interact with products, services, or their surroundings. For example, a study might watch how office design affects how productive and happy employees are.

The downside is that you might miss out on understanding why people do what they do. Also, the researcher's perspective might influence interpretation.

Biometrics and health data

If you want hard facts about physical wellbeing, biometrics and health data are the way to go. Biometrics are physical characteristics we can measure, like heart rate or blood pressure.

Think about those fitness trackers many people wear. The companies behind them can use all that data to learn about people's health and wellbeing. When they put all the data together, they might spot patterns they hadn't noticed before. And because this data is often collected automatically, people act more naturally than if they knew they were being watched.

However, there's a big "but" here – privacy. This kind of data needs to be collected with permission and kept secure. Focusing only on physical indicators may also fail to address other wellbeing dimensions.

The role of self-reporting vs third-party assessments

Another methodological choice is whether to gather data through self-reporting or third-party assessment.

Self-reported surveys and interviews rely on individuals to evaluate their own wellbeing. This brings in subjectivity and cognitive biases. But it provides a critical "inside view" on lived experiences.

In contrast, third-party assessments by experts, data analysts, or public census metrics give an external evaluation. This offers increased objectivity but lacks personal context.

In the end, using both methods together often gives the most complete picture.

Tools and frameworks for measuring wellbeing

It can be challenging to determine effective wellbeing metrics across populations. Thankfully, validated frameworks have been developed to provide consistent measurement systems.

Some leading examples include:

• PERMA model: Looks at Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment
• WHO-5 Wellbeing Index: A simple, 5-question test from the World Health Organisation
• Canadian Index for Wellbeing: Covers eight areas of life, from health to democratic engagement
• UK Measures of National Wellbeing: Looks at 59 different measures to get a complete picture of wellbeing

How to choose the proper framework for your needs

Choosing an established framework saves you from reinventing the wheel. Adapt one that aligns with your focus areas and goals. For a comprehensive assessment, integrating multiple models may work best.

Leveraging online survey software also streamlines data gathering across large samples.

Analysing and interpreting wellbeing data

Collecting responses is only the first step. To actually improve wellbeing, you need to dive into the data.

Key phases of analysis include:

• Identifying patterns and priority wellbeing metrics: What indicators show the strongest signal? What facets appear interrelated?
• Applying statistical methods to quantify findings: Correlational analysis, regression modelling, ANOVA, and more can reveal connections.
• Interpreting results in context: Trend analysis tracks trajectories over time. Comparisons to benchmarks also aid interpretation.
• Considering demographic factors: Wellbeing variances across age, gender, ethnicity, income, etc., may arise.

Implementing wellbeing measurement in practice

The goal of wellbeing measurement extends beyond data collection. We want to actively enhance wellness based on the insights uncovered.

That might mean creating new policies, starting new programs, or changing how things are done. For example, if you find that employees are stressed, you might start a mindfulness program or look at ways to reduce workload.

Some steps for implementation include:

Establishing a regular schedule for wellbeing assessments

Rather than a one-off project, plan recurring check-ins to monitor progress and rapidly flag dips requiring intervention. Annual or bi-annual assessments are common starting points.

Creating feedback loops to act on wellbeing data

Keep iterating based on learnings. Post-implementation surveys confirm if interventions improved wellbeing as intended. Continual refinement ensures maximum impact over time.

Involving employees or community members in the process

The people you're measuring should have a say in the process. Ask for their input on what to measure and how to improve things. It will lead to better ideas and more buy-in for any changes. You could set up a wellbeing committee or have regular town hall meetings to discuss wellbeing. The more involved people feel, the more likely they are to engage with your efforts.

Balancing the frequency of measurement with the potential for survey fatigue

Take care not to over-survey, especially where participation is voluntary. Thoughtful change management prevents "initiative overload". Find a balance that works for your situation. Maybe you do an extensive, comprehensive survey once a year, with shorter pulse checks in between.

Challenges and considerations in measuring wellbeing

Before you rush off to start measuring wellbeing, there are a few things to keep in mind. Measuring something as complex as wellbeing comes with some challenges. Being aware of common pitfalls upfront enables you to proactively address them.

A core challenge lies in the subjective nature of the concept. Perceptions of "success" or "happiness" vary drastically across cultures and individuals. Tapping into subjective personal truths while establishing some standardisation requires nuance.

When you're dealing with wellbeing data, you're handling sensitive information. Treat it with care and respect people's privacy. Make sure you're following all relevant laws and ethical guidelines.

There are also cultural differences in notions around wellbeing, expression, and what constitutes "appropriate" life balance. Inclusivity in measurement approaches prevents marginalising minority groups. Diverse involvement in design decisions helps mitigate bias.

Wrapping up

Wellbeing is a complex beast with many inputs, but systematic measurement brings order from chaos. Tracking it over time allows us to make data-backed decisions that truly uplift our communities, organisations and selves.

Key takeaways

Wellbeing is multi-dimensional: Wellbeing encompasses various dimensions, such as physical, emotional, social, and financial wellbeing. Each dimension contributes to an individual’s overall life satisfaction, making it crucial to consider all aspects for a holistic understanding of wellbeing.

Measuring wellbeing provides valuable insights: Whether for individuals, companies, or governments, measuring wellbeing offers actionable insights that help improve quality of life. Regular measurement allows stakeholders to spot trends, identify issues early, and track the effectiveness of interventions.

Quantitative and qualitative methods complement each other: Wellbeing can be measured through quantitative methods, such as surveys, and qualitative approaches, like interviews or focus groups. A combination of both gives a fuller picture, blending numerical data with personal experiences.

Digital surveys streamline the measurement process: Survey platforms, such as SmartSurvey, offer customisable templates and tools for creating wellbeing surveys, making it easy to gather data from large groups. These digital solutions provide flexibility and efficiency, enabling frequent wellbeing assessments.

Frameworks standardise wellbeing measurement: Using established frameworks, like the PERMA model or WHO-5 Wellbeing Index, offers consistent and reliable ways to measure wellbeing. Adapting a suitable framework ensures that the collected data is meaningful and comparable across different contexts.

Analysing wellbeing data reveals trends and informs decisions: Data analysis helps uncover patterns and relationships between wellbeing factors. By using statistical methods, organisations can interpret results, compare them against benchmarks, and track changes over time to make informed decisions.

Communication of wellbeing findings is crucial: Presenting data in clear, visual formats, like charts and infographics, helps make complex wellbeing data accessible. Transparent and ethical reporting fosters trust, whether sharing insights with employees, stakeholders, or the public.

Regular assessments drive continuous improvement: To truly enhance wellbeing, it’s essential to measure it regularly. Recurring assessments allow organisations to monitor progress, adjust strategies, and involve stakeholders in the process, ensuring sustained and meaningful improvements.