Measuring and reporting on Europeans’ wellbeing:
Findings from the European Social Survey

Rory-FitzgeraldWELCOME MESSAGE
Rory Fitzgerald, Director, ESS ERIC.
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WELLBEING MATTERS

As the wide variety of research showcased on this site demonstrates, wellbeing occupies an increasingly important place on the agenda of researchers and policymakers alike.  Here we provide a brief overview of why wellbeing matters, the importance of incorporating a wellbeing perspective into policymaking and the central role that high quality surveys such as the European Social Survey have to play in this.

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Well-being matters

measuring wellbeing

The European Social Survey has been collecting methodologically robust cross-national data on wellbeing every two years since 2002, providing researchers and policymakers with a rich dataset with which to explore Europeans’ wellbeing. The survey includes summary measures of subjective wellbeing as part of its core questionnaire and more in-depth data on wellbeing as a part of thematic ‘rotating modules’.

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Measuring_WB

dimensions of wellbeing

Wellbeing is a multifaceted concept that goes beyond individual feelings of happiness. The three contributions below use ESS data to explore the wide variety of different elements that combine to make up both individual and societal wellbeing. Each contribution demonstrates the importance of taking a multidimensional perspective, showing how different aspects of wellbeing may come to the fore in different countries and be evaluated differently among different social groups.

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Dimensions

DRIVERS of wellbeing

For policymakers or individuals to increase wellbeing depends on them understanding what might influence or drive wellbeing. Subjective wellbeing may be influenced by a wide range of individual and societal factors. The relative importance of different drivers is likely to vary across countries and across different groups within society depending on their circumstances. The seven contributions below use ESS data to explore a number of potentially important drivers of wellbeing across European countries: work, gender, parenthood, migration, the environment, democratic government and cultural values.

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Wellbeing Matters

Measuring Wellbeing

WELLBEING MATTERS

As the wide variety of research showcased on this site demonstrates, wellbeing occupies an increasingly important place on the agenda of researchers and policymakers alike.  Here we provide a brief overview of why wellbeing matters, the importance of incorporating a wellbeing perspective into policymaking and the central role that high quality surveys such as the European Social Survey have to play in this.

READ MORE

Well-being matters

measuring wellbeing

The European Social Survey has been collecting methodologically robust cross-national data on wellbeing every two years since 2002, providing researchers and policymakers with a rich dataset with which to explore Europeans’ wellbeing. The survey includes summary measures of subjective wellbeing as part of its core questionnaire and more in-depth data on wellbeing as a part of thematic ‘rotating modules’.

READ MORE

Measuring_WB

Dimensions of Wellbeing

Drivers of Wellbeing

dimensions of wellbeing

Wellbeing is a multifaceted concept that goes beyond individual feelings of happiness. The three contributions below use ESS data to explore the wide variety of different elements that combine to make up both individual and societal wellbeing. Each contribution demonstrates the importance of taking a multidimensional perspective, showing how different aspects of wellbeing may come to the fore in different countries and be evaluated differently among different social groups.

READ MORE

Dimensions

DRIVERS of wellbeing

For policymakers or individuals to increase wellbeing depends on them understanding what might influence or drive wellbeing. Subjective wellbeing may be influenced by a wide range of individual and societal factors. The relative importance of different drivers is likely to vary across countries and across different groups within society depending on their circumstances. The seven contributions below use ESS data to explore a number of potentially important drivers of wellbeing across European countries: work, gender, parenthood, migration, the environment, democratic government and cultural values.

READ MORE

Fortune_teller2_main