Researchers share initial findings from landmark happiness study

• In its next phase, the Health and Happiness Study aims to collect wellbeing data from over 10,000 global participants using surveys, smartphones, and wearable devices.

Researchers at Harvard and Oxford universities today (Saturday) announced early results from the Health and Happiness Study – the first large-scale study of its kind, which seeks to identify predictors of happiness and wellbeing using data from smartphones and Garmin smartwatches.

The pilot study, primarily comprised of Garmin associates in North America and Europe, revealed several statistically significant findings. And while initial results need to be corroborated through the larger global study, they illustrated an important relationship between sleep, exercise and happiness.

Key findings include:

• Participants consistently report more frequent positive emotions than negative emotions, suggesting that people generally do feel more happy than unhappy on a day-to-day basis.
• Ideal times of day for happiness and wellbeing varied considerably across subjects, with some individuals showing greater signs of emotional wellbeing in the mornings, and others in the afternoon or evenings.
• Daily physical activity and adequate sleep measured by Garmin devices were strongly correlated with higher levels of happiness and lower levels of stress.
• Emotional stability varied by age, with older adults showing more stability than younger adults.
• The study demonstrated high retention rates, suggesting participants found value in self-monitoring emotions during the day.
• Respondents were happiest when involved in cultural and social activities, eating, or spending time with friends and family.

After receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB), the pilot study was launched by Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers – in collaboration with the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, the University of Warwick, the University of Saskatchewan, Avicenna and Garmin – at the Lugano Happiness Forum in Switzerland on June 18, 2024.

Now, after successfully completing two initial pilot studies, the Health and Happiness Study is expanding to include more than 10,000 participants from across the globe.

Micah Kaats, the Principal Investigator for the study and affiliated with both Harvard and Oxford universities, said: “By leveraging large-scale data from smartphones, smartwatches, and surveys collected from a global sample population, we aim to uncover new insights into the drivers and determinants of health and happiness for people around the world.”

Surveys are sent to respondents’ smartphones three times per day, asking them about their moods, emotions, and activities directly preceding the survey. Those reports are then cross-referenced with data from Garmin wearables and smartphones to provide a nuanced, qualitative and quantitative representation of how wellbeing impacted by variables like physical activity, sleep, socialization and stress.

Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing, added: “As a collaborator on more than 1,000 research studies and clinical trials, the Garmin Health team is honored to work with academic researchers at Harvard and Oxford University on this groundbreaking study to better understand the intersection of happiness and health.”

The Health and Happiness Study is currently accepting applicants to participate in the global study. Participants can learn more and sign up on the study website: www.healthandhappinessstudy.com.

While preferable, participants do not need a Garmin smartwatch to join the study. All participants who join will be eligible to receive free Garmin products and discounts, as well as individualised wellbeing reports that provide detailed insights into their own personal health and happiness.