There was an error on your page. Please correct any required fields and submit again.
Go to the first error
We are not all equally happy. Happiness varies not only from one person to the next but also from one country to another. (For more discussion of happiness around the world, see The Many Faces of Happiness.) Psychologists measure happiness in several ways. One approach involves the extent to which you experience positive versus negative emotions. Another assesses life satisfaction, or how pleased you are with your life as a whole. Take the quiz below to find out how happy you are and how your happiness compares to the average for people in your country.
Think about yesterday, from the time you awoke until the moment you fell asleep. Recall where you were, what you were doing, who was with you and how you felt. Now consider the feelings listed below. Next to each, check "yes" or "no" to indicate whether you experienced that emotion A LOT of the day yesterday:
Enjoyment *This question is required
Worry *This question is required
Contentment *This question is required
Sadness *This question is required
Happiness *This question is required
Boredom *This question is required
Did you smile or laugh a lot yesterday? *This question is required
Depression *This question is required
Proud of something you did? *This question is required
Anger *This question is required
Rate Your Life As A Whole
The ladder below depicts life satisfaction. How good is your life when you step back and think about it?
The 10 at the top represents the best possible life for you, with lower numbers indicating lesser degrees of fulfillment. On which step of the ladder do you feel you stand now?
*This question is required
Scales by Ed Diener. Joseph Smiley Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Emeritus, University of Illinois., Source: Hadley Cantril's Self-Anchoring Striving Scale. Reference: Cantril, H. (1966). Pattern of human concerns. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
