Are you happy ? Take this little happiness test to assess your level of satisfaction with life. It was designed around 30 years ago and is still in use by researchers, academics and pollsters around the world. In addition, it takes less than 5 minutes.
To get to the heart of the matter, I invite you now to realize the happiness test*, proposed by Edward Diener, psychologist at the University of Illinois (deceased in 2021). His work on well-being and happiness had strongly influenced, at the end of the 90s, the birth of the current of positive psychology.
You are 5 minutes from happiness
This test, developed in 1985, offers you an overall assessment of your quality of life based on criteria that you determine yourself. It is very easy to make because it only involves five statements. It will only take you 5 minutes : the result is therefore almost immediate.
According to Diener’s model, subjective well-being (happiness) is determined by three components: positive emotions, negative emotions and the level of satisfaction with one’s life.
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Despite its age, this tool remains relevant because these three components are relatively independent of each other. For example, the life satisfaction does not necessarily correspond to the balance between emotions.
How to take the happiness test?
For each of the following statements, indicate to what extent you agree with these using the following rating scale:
- +1 if you strongly disagree
- +2 if you strongly disagree
- +3 if you moderately disagree
- +4 if you neither agree nor disagree
- +5 if you agree moderately
- +6 if you largely agree
- +7 if you totally agree
here are the 5 test questions happiness :
- In general, my life closely matches my ideals
- My living conditions are excellent
- I am satisfied with my life
- Until now I got the important things that I wanted in life
- If I could start my life over, I wouldn’t change a thing
Your results on the happiness test
Your score is less than 10
You are very dissatisfied with your current life. Whatever the reason for the low level of satisfaction, do not hesitate to call on those around you (a friend or family member, a psychologist or another counselor) to improve it.
This text is taken from the book My Little Happiness that you can receive for free.
Click here to download it for free
Your score is in the 10-14 range
You are generally dissatisfied with your life. If the dissatisfaction is a response to a recent event, you will likely return to a higher level of satisfaction over time. However, if low levels of satisfaction are chronic, some changes would be desirable – both in attitudes and ways of thinking, and probably also in activities.
Your happiness test score is in the 15-19 range
You have moderate but significant problems in several areas of life, or several areas that are doing well but one area in which you are experiencing a significant problem.
Your score is in the 20-24 bracket
This level of satisfaction corresponds to the average in economically developed countries. The majority of people are generally satisfied but would like to be even more so if they made some changes in their life.
Your score is in the 25-29 range
You love life. Your level of satisfaction is higher than the average for people in economically developed countries. For you, life is good, and the main areas of your life are doing well – work or school, family, friends, hobbies, and personal development.
Your score to the happiness test is greater than 29
You love your life very much. She’s not perfect, but things are going as well as they can get. Growth and challenges may be part of the reasons you are satisfied with it.
Comments from the author of the test
According to Edward Diener, the social relations are one of the most important influences on life satisfaction. People who have a high satisfaction score tend to have family members and / or friends who are close and supportive, while those who do not have close friends and family are more likely to be dissatisfied.
An important factor is also work or studies. When a person enjoys their job, paid or unpaid, and finds it useful, it contributes to satisfaction. Another factor is performance in an important role such as that of parent or from Grand parent. Other factors are the personal development, learning, recreation, health.
To get to make progress in relation to goals important to oneself is a factor that can greatly influence satisfaction.
(*) This test is entitled “The Satisfaction with Life Scale”, available here in French).
