Media Releases and Opportunities

It's an age-old question that is not easily answered -- what is the secret to happiness and how much do our surroundings and individual circumstances play into that?

Researchers at Dalhousie University have gained valuable insight into the issue, suggesting in a new paper that it may be a multiplicity of lifestyle factors and perceived circumstances that can determine a person's well-being.

Taylor Hill, a PhD student in Dalhousie's Department of Psychology  Neuroscience, examined data from a survey of almost 13,000 people in Nova Scotia that was administered by the Canadian Index of Wellbeing and Engage Nova Scotia in 2019.

Hill identified the variables that are most important in predicting both life satisfaction and life worth, which included self-rated mental health, satisfaction with the natural environment, sense of community, financial insecurity, and physical health.

Hill is available to discuss the findings and how they may inform where community-level programming and policy could focus resources more effectively to promote well-being for individuals and their communities.

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Media contact:

Alison Auld 
Senior Research Reporter 
Communications, Marketing and Creative Services 
Dalhousie University 
Cell: 1-902-220-0491 
Email: alison.auld@dal.ca