2010 U.S. Well-Being Report

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index™ (WBI) fell slightly in February 2010, dropping a statistically insignificant 0.2 percentage points to close the month at 66.8, still among the highest scores yet recorded. Year-over-year, the overall index increased 2.8 percentage points, representing an improvement in overall well-being for more than nine million Americans.

While the majority of the six sub-indices that comprise the WBI’s Composite Score experienced only minor changes during February, the Work Environment Sub-Index (WEI) dropped a further 0.9 percentage points to 48.0, an all-time low. This record low score is more than 5.0 percentage points below the WEI’s all time high score of 53.3, recorded on October 2008, a decline in workplace well-being and on-the-job satisfaction for more than 17 million people.

The WBI’s Life Evaluation Sub-Index (LEI), which asks respondents to rate their current lives and future outlook, inched upward in February to 50.4, a new high. The Physical Health Sub-Index (PHI) and Healthy Behaviors Sub-Index (HBI) are up 1.0 and 1.3 percentage points respectively over the same time last year.

To download the February report, please click here.