Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS)

subjective happiness scale sonja lyubomirsky toolshero

Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS): this article explains the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), developed by Sonja Lyubomirsky in a practical way. Other highlights include: what happiness is, how to enhance it and strategies to sustain it. Lastly, you can download an editable Subjective Happiness Scale template in this article, which contains the SHS questionnaire. Enjoy reading!

What is the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS)?

In her book ‘The How of Happiness‘, which was published in 2007, psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky describes ways to measure subjective happiness. This is the global Subjective Happiness Scale or SHS.

According to this Subjective Happiness Scale the 40% formula applies, in which 50% of your potential happiness is determined by your genes. The other 50% is divided into 10% and 40%, 10% of an individual’s happiness is related to their life circumstances and the remaining 40% is due to the conscious choices they make. For example, self-control can make all the difference. Lyubomirsky has also written a follow-up book that consists of 12 happiness-enhancing strategies.

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Subjective Happiness Formula by Sonja Lyubomirsky - toolshero

Figure 1 – Subjective Happiness Formula (Lyubomirsky)

Subjective Happiness Scale and enhancing happiness

Lyubomirsky ‘s book is a self-help tool that enables people to learn strategies to boost their happiness. She aims to show that happiness in life is largely determined by people themselves and that they themselves can undertake things to boost their personal happiness.

First of all, the current level of happiness has to be determined; this is the starting point of Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS). By using clear strategies, the feeling of happiness can be boosted and people learn to let the feeling of happiness continue.

It would be preferable to tailor the specific exercises to each individual that suit their character, personal goals and living conditions.

What is happiness?

According to Ms Lyubomirsky, happiness is the experience of joy, contentment and well-being. These three values are combined with a sense that one’s life is good and meaningful.

Nevertheless, happiness is a subjective feeling and each person defines happiness in different terms. In order to measure this subjective happiness, a 4-item Subjective Happiness Scale is used in which respondents answer questions with answer options ranging from 1 (not at all) to 7 (completely).

The questions form the basis of Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) and are as follows:

  1. In general I consider myself:
    Not a very happy person (1) <–> A very happy person (7)
  2. Compared with my peers, I consider myself:
    Less happy (1) <–> More happy (7)
  3. Some people are generally very happy; they enjoy life regardless of what is going on, getting the most out of everything. To what extent does this characterization describe you?
    Not at all (1) <–> A great deal (7)
  4. Some people are generally not very happy. Although they are not depressed, they never seem to be happy as they might be. To what extent does this characterization describe you?
    Not at all (1) <–> A great deal (7)

The scores of the four questions are totalled after which the outcome is divided by 4 and this provides the SHS score. Most people score between 4.5 and 5.5. With a score lower than 4.0 it would be advisable to take a depression test or seek the advice of a mental health professional.

Basic level of happiness

The forty percent formula finds its source in the basic level of happiness. 50% of happiness is based in our genetics. Depending on the situation or the shape of the day, there are moments that a person is happy and there are moments that a person is unhappy.

People always return to this basic level of happiness, regardless of whether they are dealing with favourable or less favourable living conditions.

That happiness is genetically proven, is evident from, among other things, twin research, genome research and brain research. It turned out that identical twins who were separated at birth experience a similar level of happiness at a later age.

Furthermore, there is a hereditary depression gene that makes people prone to depression. Finally, brain research shows that there is an area in the brain that is dedicated to the processing of positive emotions; the prefrontal cortex. This is also a genetic factor.

Subjective Happiness Scale : Living Conditions

10% of happiness is affected by living conditions. That does not seem like much but research has shown that living conditions are only a small determinant, and that, for example, rich people are not happier than poor people.

The circumstances, including work and income, living environment and health, have a limited influence on happiness. Material goods bring only a short-term and temporary happiness.

Research has also shown that 1/3 of very wealthy people think that money causes more problems than it solves. Being beautiful does not make a person happy all the time either.

There is, however, a connection between a positive self-image and feeling happy. Happy people have a more positive outlook on life. Yet the feeling of happiness can fade away again, because people get used to it.

This is a process which is referred to as hedonistic adaption. Incidentally, this also applies to unpleasant things that people can get used to, such as illness or disability.

Conscious choices

40% is determined by the conscious choices that people make, whereby self-control can make the difference. Within this 40% there is space to create more individual happiness.

It is about how someone thinks and how they behave. A person can raise their level of happiness by eliminating certain things that block their happiness by not focusing on them.

For example being dissatisfied with their job, appearance, an unhappy marriage and so on. By adopting the mindset of happy people, a person will be able to become happier themselves.

Sustainable happiness

Once someone has attained happiness, it is still quite a challenge to maintain this happiness.

According to Lyubomirsky there are five ways that lead this so-called sustainable happiness:

Sustainable Happiness according to Sonja Lyubomirsky - toolshero

Figure 2 – Five Elements of Sustainable Happiness (Lyubomirsky)

1: Positive emotions

The stream of positive emotions that people experience on a daily basis, should not be underestimated. They give people a considerable boost, help break a downward spiral and promote blood vessel and heart health. Positive emotions also make people smarter and more creative.

2: Optimal timing and variety

Optimal timing is important when applying a happiness strategy. It is also important to vary strategies so that people do not settle into routines. By doing various happiness activities at the same time they keep variety alive and fresh.

3: Social support

The environment can make a positive contribution to someone’s feeling of happiness. Interactions with people in the environment provide motivation, support, encouragement and validation. These people could be acquaintances or like-minded individuals.

4: Motivation and effort

The focus on something new requires effort and motivation. By effort is meant that people need to put in effort and sustain that effort, not just the once but continuously.

This will no doubt lead to demotivation. In that case motivation will have to be given a boost and the person in question should have a clear idea what the ultimate objective is of their efforts.

5: Habits

Habits are difficult to unlearn and new habits are difficult to learn. Practice makes perfect; by repeating and making an effort, a new habit will become more ‘normal’ so that it will have the desired result.

Subjective Happiness Scale and Strategies

Before people get started, they must first distance themselves from their assumptions about what makes them happy. People often focus on the wrong things such as image and living conditions, whereas the true sources of personal happiness and well-being are more obvious.

It is therefore a good idea to find out first what causes discomfort. Why is someone feeling unhappy? Then they need to find out what their strengths are. By doing the things they are good at they can use them better and do them more often.

Finally, their own lifestyle is important. People may wonder whether what they do, happens naturally, or whether they do this to please someone else. They can also do something based on their own conviction, from a sense of guilt or because the environment forces them to do so.

Anyone who wants to become happier, according to Lyubomirsky, will have to invest in themselves. With happiness-enhancing exercises, people are able to elevate their level of happiness beyond the natural set point of happiness.

It means that people will have to change their lives radically and adopt a different attitude towards their lifestyle. In all cases it is about ‘boosting happiness’, which implies that an effort must be made.

Subjective Happiness Scale template

Measure your subjective happiness with the Subjective Happiness Scale template and get insights to reach sustainable happiness.

Download the Subjective Happiness Scale template

This template is exclusively for our paying Toolshero members. Click here to see if a membership is something for you!

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It’s Your Turn

What do you think? Have you ever heard of the Subjective Happiness Scale? Do you recognize the practical explanation or do you have more suggestions? What are your success factors for personal happiness and well-being?

Share your experience and knowledge in the comments box below.

More information

  1. Lyubomirsky, S., & Lepper, H. S. (1999). A measure of subjective happiness: Preliminary reliability and construct validation. Social indicators research, 46(2), 137-155.
  2. Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). The how of happiness: A scientific approach to getting the life you want. New York: Penguin Press.
  3. Lyubomirsky, S. (2013). The myths of happiness: What should make you happy, but doesn’t, what shouldn’t make you happy, but does. New York: Penguin Press

How to cite this article:
Mulder, P. (2018). Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS). Retrieved [insert date] from Toolshero: https://www.toolshero.com/psychology/subjective-happiness-scale-sonja-lyubomirsky/

Original publication date: 02/23/2018 | Last update: 08/02/2023

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Patty Mulder
Article by:

Patty Mulder

Patty Mulder is an Dutch expert on Management Skills, Personal Effectiveness and Business Communication. She is also a Content writer, Business Coach and Company Trainer and lives in the Netherlands (Europe).
Note: all her articles are written in Dutch and we translated her articles to English!

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