Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Improving the Health Care Sector with a Happiness-Based Approach

The Case of the Happiness Route

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Well-Being in Contemporary Society

Part of the book series: Happiness Studies Book Series ((HAPS))

Abstract

Traditionally, welfare states in Western Europe and their health care systems focused on the problems of individual citizens. Similarly, academic disciplines paid greater attention to what is going wrong than on what is going right. Nowadays the focus is shifting. It has been argued that it is important to complement the traditional approach of the prevention and treatment of problems with a new goal: the promotion of well-being . People’s strengths, talents and virtues are increasingly recognized as means to help people to stay or become better, prevent chronification of diseases and save costs for society. This new happiness-based approach can be used to find answers to challenges of modern welfare systems . This is especially important for the group of chronically ill persons who get caught in a vicious cycle of worsening functioning and increasing health care. Despite the care they receive, their well-being remains low. We introduce a happiness-based approach to complement the problem-focused approach with the aim of enhancing well-being . We describe the Happiness Route as one of the few theory-based interventions where the happiness-based approach is currently applied. The Happiness Route intends to increase emotional, psychological and social well-being of socially isolated people with low socioeconomic status and chronic illnesses. The intervention builds on positive psychology (in particular self-determination theory) and behavioural economics (in particular nudging). Participants are nudged to find and carry out an intrinsically motivated activity that supports them in fulfilling basic psychological needs of autonomy, relatedness, and competence. We will discuss findings of pilot studies as well as conditions for a successful implementation. One pilot study showed that participants’ well-being increased and health care consumption decreased. Now a randomized controlled field study is being carried out to evaluate the effect of the Happiness Route . We conclude that the happiness-based approach is an innovative way to improve the health care sector. It is both important and possible to promote well-being in order to achieve a flourishing population .

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Barry, M. M., & Rachel, J. (2007). Implementing mental health promotion. Oxford: Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bijl, R., Boelhouwer, J., Cloïn, M., & Pommer, E. (Eds.). (2011). De sociale staat van Nederland 2011. Den Haag: Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolier, L., Haverman, M., Westerhof, G. J., Riper, H., Smit, F., & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2013). Positive psychology interventions: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. BMC Public Health, 13(1), 119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chida, Y., & Steptoe, A. (2008). Positive psychological well-being and mortality: A quantitative review of prospective observational studies. Psychosomatic Medicine, 70, 741–756.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., & Pressman, S. D. (2006). Positive affect and health. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 15(3), 122–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crumbaugh, J. C., & Maholick, L. T. (1964). An experimental study in existentialism: The psychometric approach to Frankl’s concept of noogenic neurosis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 20, 200–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E. (2000). Subjective well-being: The science of happiness and a proposal for a national index. American Psychologist, 55, 34–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Lucas, R. E. (1999). Personality and subjective wellbeing. In D. Kahneman., E. Diener & N. Schwarz (Eds.), Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology (pp. 213–229). New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Ryan, K. (2009). Subjective well-being: A general overview. South African Journal of Psychology, 39(4), 391–406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. L. (1999). Subjective well-being: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 276–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fledderus, M., Bohlmeijer, E. T., Smit, F., & Westerhof, G. J. (2010). Mental health promotion as a new goal in public mental health care: A randomized controlled trial of an intervention enhancing psychological flexibility. American Journal of Public Health, 100, 2372–2378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francissen, A., Wezenberg, E., & Westerhof, G. J. (2010). De gevolgen van geluk; Achtergronden en toekomst van het geluksbudget. Borne: Arcon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. E. (1966). What is meant by meaning? Journal of Existentialism, 7, 21–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, C. (2005). The economics of happiness. World Economics, 6(3), 41–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hannah, S. T., Woolfolk, R. L., & Lord, R. G. (2009). Leader self-structure: A framework for positive leadership. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 30(2), 269–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howell, R. T., Kern, M. L., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2007). Health benefits: Meta-analytically determining the impact of well-being on objective health outcomes. Health Psychology Review, 1, 83–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kedzia, S. (2009). What makes you happy? Evaluating an intervention aimed at promoting social participation. Masterthesis. Enschede: Universiteit Twente.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L. M. (1998). Social well-being. Social psychology quarterly, 61(2), 121–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L. M. (2002). The mental health continuum: From languishing to flourishing in life. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 43(2), 207–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L. M. (2005). Mental illness and/or mental health? Investigating axioms of the complete state model of health. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 539–548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L. M. (2007). Promoting and protecting mental health as flourishing: A complementary strategy for improving national mental health. American Psychologist, 62, 95–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L., Dhingra, S. S., & Simoes, E. J. (2010). Change in level of positive mental health as a predictor of future risk of mental illness. American Journal of Public Health, 100(12), 2366–2371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korte, J., Bohlmeijer, E. T., Cappeliez, P., Smit, F., & Westerhof, G. J. (2012). Life review therapy for older adults with moderate depressive symptomatology: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Psychological Medicine, 42(6), 1163–1173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamers, S. M. A., Bolier, L., Westerhof, G. J., Smit, F., & Bohlmeijer, Ernst T. (2011). The impact of emotional well-being on long-term recovery and survival in physical illness: A meta-analysis. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 35(5), 538–547.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyubomirsky, S., King, L. A., & Diener, E. (2005). The benefits of frequent positive affect: Does happiness lead to success? Psychological Bulletin, 131, 803–855.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport. (2010). Welzijn nieuwe stijl. Den Haag: Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, C. L., & Folkman, S. (1997). Meaning in the context of stress and coping. Review of General Psychology, 1(2), 115–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters Weem, B. (2011). Geluk in de Praktijk; Een verkenning van het gebruik van concepten als geluk (happiness) in Nederlandse welzijnsprojecten. Masterthesis. Enschede: Universiteit Twente.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pressman, S. D., & Cohen, S. (2005). Does positive affect influence health? Psychological Bulletin, 131(6), 925–971.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raad voor de Volksgezondheid en Zorg. (2010a). Zorg voor je gezondheid! Gedrag en gezondheid: De nieuwe ordening. Den Haag: RVZ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raad voor de Volksgezondheid en Zorg RVZ. (2010b). Perspectief op gezondheid 20/20. Den Haag: Koninklijke Broese and Peereboom b.v.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55, 68–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2001). On happiness and human potentials: A review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Annual Review of Psychology, 52(1), 141–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. (1998). The role of purpose in life and personal growth in positive human health. In P. T. Wong & P. S. Fry (Eds.), The human quest for meaning: A handbook of psychological research and clinical applications (pp. 213–235). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. (2010). Psychological well-being: Meaning, measurement, and implications for psychotherapy research. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 65(1), 14–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. E. P. (2008). Positive health. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 57, 3–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. E. P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 5–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. E. P., Ernst, R. M., Gillham, J., Reivich, K., & Linkins, M. (2009). Positive education: Positive psychology and classroom interventions. Oxford Review of Education, 35(3), 293–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sin, N. L., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2009). Enhancing well-being and alleviating depressive symptoms with positive psychology interventions: A practice-friendly meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65, 467–487.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thaler, Richard H., and Cass R. Sunstein. 2008. Nudge. Improving decisions about health, wealth and happiness. London: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiemeijer, W. L., Thomas, C. A., & Prast, H. M. (2009). De menselijke beslisser. Over de psychologie van keuze en gedrag. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Valtorta, N. K., & Hanratty, B. (2013). Socioeconomic variation in the financial consequences of ill health for older people with chronic diseases: A systematic review. Maturitas, 74(4), 313–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Plaats, A. J. (1994). Geriatrie: een spel van evenwicht. Dissertatie. Assen: Van Gorcum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Plaats, A. J. (2002). Eindrapportage Zorg in Beeld Verlicht. Almelo: Gemeente Almelo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Plaats, A. J. (2007). Eindrapportage Onderzoek PGB Welzijn. Almelo: Gemeente Almelo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veenhoven, R. (1996). Developments in satisfaction research. Social Indicators Research, 37, 1–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veenhoven, R. (2008). Healthy happiness: Effects of happiness on physical health and the consequences for preventive health care. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9, 449–469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten VNG. (2010). Kantelen in de Wmo: Handreiking voor visieontwikkeling en organisatieverandering. Den Haag: Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walburg, J. (2008). Mentaal vermogen: Investeren in geluk. Nieuw Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waterman, A. S. (1993). Two conceptions of happiness: Contrasts of personal experience (eudaimonia) and hedonic enjoyment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64, 678–691.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, L. A., Westerhof, G. J., & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2013). Nudging socially isolated people towards well-being with the ‘Happiness Route’: Design of a randomized controlled trial for the evaluation of a happiness-based intervention. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 11, 159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westerhof, G. J. (2013). The complete mental health model: The social distribution of mental health and mental illness in the Dutch population. In C. L. M. Keyes (Eds.), Mental well-being: International contributions to the study of positive mental health (pp. 51–70). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westerhof, G. J., & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2010). Psychologie van de levenskunst. Amsterdam: Boom.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westerhof, G. J., & Keyes, C. L. M. (2010). Mental illness and mental health: The two continua model across the lifespan. Journal of Adult Development, 17, 110–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (2005). Promoting mental health: Concepts, emerging evidence, practice. Geneva: WHO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zika, S., & Chamberlain, K. (1992). On the relation between meaning in life and psychological well-being. British Journal of Psychology, 83(1), 133–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

We want to thank David Maylia sincerely for proofreading the text and his helpful suggestions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, Universiteit Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Laura A. Weiss & Gerben J. Westerhof

  2. Academy for Swiss Insurance Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Sarah Kedzia

  3. Geluksacademie, Arcon, Borne, The Netherlands

    Aad Francissen

Authors
  1. Laura A. Weiss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sarah Kedzia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aad Francissen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gerben J. Westerhof
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura A. Weiss .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Johnny H. Søraker

  2. Department of Philosophy and Economics, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany

    Jan-Willem Van der Rijt

  3. Department of Philosophy, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

    Jelle de Boer

  4. Institute for Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

    Pak-Hang Wong

  5. Department of Philosophy, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Philip Brey

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Weiss, L.A., Kedzia, S., Francissen, A., Westerhof, G.J. (2015). Improving the Health Care Sector with a Happiness-Based Approach. In: Søraker, J., Van der Rijt, JW., de Boer, J., Wong, PH., Brey, P. (eds) Well-Being in Contemporary Society. Happiness Studies Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06459-8_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation