Free Happiness Tests
This is an overview of THE best and most thoroughly validated FREE happiness tests available online. They are regularly used by scientists to test the happiness of nations, groups and individuals. So go and try them out to determine your own happiness score.
One of my passions is helping people to enjoy their lives more, helping them to create more happiness which has been proven to boost people’s energy, creativity, immune system/health, productivity at work and even lead to a longer life ! I deliberately use the word “create” not “find” because happiness is not something you can find “out there”, the only place to generate it from is “from inside” by learning the attitudes, skills and strategies to become happier (if you would like me to coach you to be happier, just drop me an email at coaching@developandgrow.com).
Remember the quote from Agnes Repplier:
It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.
So, let’s have a look at the free happiness tests I promised.
FREE OVERALL HAPPINESS TESTS
First of all there are tests that measure overall subjective well-being (many scientists prefer the term subjective well-being instead of happiness). These tests give you a score for your genetic set point for happiness, the happiness level you automatically return back to after great ups (e.g. a pay-raise at work) or downs (e.g. loss of a friend). This level is different for everyone; some people are naturally happier than others.
1. Subjective Happiness Scale – by Sonja Lyubomirsky
The average happiness score runs from about 4.5 to 5.5. College students tend to score lower (averaging a bit below 5) than working adults and older, retired people (who average 5.6)
2. Life Satisfaction Test – by Ed Diener
The average score for adults here is 5.8.
FREE SPECIFIC HAPPINESS LEVEL TEST
Only 50% of your happiness is determined by genetics though, 10% (ONLY !) by life circumstances such as how much money you earn/ job you hold/ size of car you have and another 40% of your happiness can be influenced by your intentional activities (your thoughts, actions, attitudes). Through these you influence your happiness level which could be way above your happiness set point. The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire is a scale which measures your happiness level. You can and should take it regularly (i.e. every 6 months) to see how your happiness level evolves, particularly if you are working (with or without a coach) on new ways of becoming a happier person.
The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire – by Michael Argyle
The average score is around 4.3. Your own score will have most meaning by comparing it to a future score of yours (say in 3 months) to see whether you are making progress in becoming a happier person (before you re-take the test, you should work on something that is scientifically proven to boost your happiness such as counting your blessings every night, i.e. finding 3 things that you are grateful for – or anything else of course).
OTHER FREE HAPPINESS TESTS
The Positive Psychology department at the University of Pennsylvania is constantly developing new improved happiness tests. If you would like to try them out check this website. They are free but you need to register to take them.
There are plenty of self-made quizzes about happiness as well. None of them are validated, so the interpretation of your results may or may not be correct. If you take those, take them for fun. If you really want to assess or even work on your happiness level, take the one’s recommended above. Happy testing !
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