Following the Government’s announcement last year that it wanted to measure the country’s well-being, researchers have been looking into how to compile a happiness index, to allow people to look at their own lives and see how they can be improved.

The work going on into how we can measure happiness and well-being is far-reaching and stretches across several disciplines.

A number of speakers will be at the University of Bradford during the British Science Festival at an event looking into how this index is being put together.

Government advisers in the field, along with researchers from the university, will be speaking at The Happiness Factor, held at the university on Tuesday, September 13.

Organised by Dr Eleanor Bryant, lecturer in psychology at the University of Bradford, the event will look at a range of factors which impact our well-being, from food and drink, to dementia and body image.

Dr Bryant said: “Success is now measured on finances, but over the last 50 years we have seen a rise in income, but the general level of happiness is no higher.

“So there isn’t an exact link between well-being and wealth.

“So you could say it’s important to measure well-being, happiness and health to see how well this Government’s policies can actually affect the population.”

Of course, much of the advice given to help improve well-being is well-known – eat well, look after yourself and exercise regularly.

But work is also being carried out into how not everybody finds this easy.

Dr Bryant said: “What is interesting is the difference between young people now.

“The biggest increase in anxiety and depression is in younger people, which has never been seen before, and is worrying – younger adults aged 16 to 24.

“Young people and older people’s happiness goes hand-in-hand with alcohol consumption.

“Hopefully, the work will give people a bit of an insight into what happiness is, to focus on their own lives and how they can improve their happiness and well-being.”

Twitter: @jamesrushTandA