Scots are making Britain happier says survey

BRITAIN is getting happier – thanks, it seems, to the Scots.

In its annual survey of wellbeing, the Office for National Statistics points out how, amid the continuing gloom of the Brexit process, people south and west of the Border in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are becoming more unhappy.

Yet the UK’S overall happiness rating has been pushed up thanks to the sunnier disposition of those living in Scotland.

The ONS says: “Scotland has shown improvements in average ratings of life satisfaction, worthwhile and happiness but there have been no overall changes in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.”

It explains: “Between the years ending December 2016 and 2017, improvements in worthwhile and

happiness ratings in the UK were driven by Scotland, where average ratings also improved.

“Interestingly, average life satisfaction ratings also improved for Scotland.

“However, there were no significant changes for ratings of anxiety.

“No overall changes were reported for any measure of personal well-being in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.”

Frustratingly perhaps, the ONS does not explain just what makes Scots happier than those who live in other parts of the UK, but it does say that the three most influential factors on people’s well-being are their employment status, self-reported health and relationship status.

The organisation tracks well-being by surveying people and looking at four measures: are you satisfied with your life; are the things you do worthwhile; how happy are you and how anxious are you?

The unhappiest Britons appear to be the Welsh.

The research showed how over the years, from March 2012 to December 2017, Scots’ well-being has increased on the four measures used: life satisfaction[7.51 to 7.72]; worthwhileness [7.68 to 7.88]; happiness[7.31 to 7.51]; and anxiety[3.06 to 2.9].