Life satisfaction: what works?

We embarked on an exciting new research programme to identify high-quality evidence on life satisfaction that can inform experimental research and policy development.

Between September 2023 and April 2024, we conducted two rapid evidence assessment of life satisfaction literature to:

1. collate international research into effective interventions used to improve an individual’s life satisfaction;
2. update the evidence base of broad drivers of life satisfaction at a population-level using UK longitudinal data.

We also produced a trials strategy to ensure future experimental research into life satisfaction is more aligned with public policy priorities, informed by our review findings and the Centre’s ongoing work and thinking on how to generate and use experimental wellbeing evidence. 

We will use evidence from this foundational research programme to highlight effective approaches and interventions for policy-makers and research funders, and accelerate experimental wellbeing research. 

In this video, Richard Crellin, summarises and takes us through learnings and findings from the project.

Background

In the UK’s Treasury’s Green Book 2020 and the 2021 supplementary guidance, wellbeing is integral to the definition of our national welfare, and life satisfaction is a clear cross-departmental priority outcome. 

Using life satisfaction as a common metric to compare the policy impacts on the lives of citizens across the country, across departments and policy areas, can enable more effective use of public funds and the generation of social and public value.

Experimental evidence on what works to improve life satisfaction is needed to be able to capture the broad effects on UK policies and programmes.

This new research will inform the development of future experimental evaluation, and shape policy objectives to help prioritise policies and projects based on their wellbeing impacts, cost effectiveness and trade-offs. 

The programme builds on our previous reviews of evidence that uses established wellbeing metrics ONS4 and WEMWBS. It is also part of our mission to accelerate the generation of and access to wellbeing data.

What is ‘Life satisfaction’?

Life satisfaction is one of four metrics used by the Office for National Statistics to measure personal (subjective) wellbeing. It is captured using a 0-10 scale response to the question “Overall, how satisfied are you with your life nowadays?”. The harmonised set is used across many surveys, including the Annual Population Survey.