Baylor And Harvard Open Landmark Global Flourishing Study Dataset Covering 200,000 Participants Across 22 Nations

The world's largest study on human flourishing is now public, offering data on well-being, purpose, and health for 200,000 participants worldwide.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 9:12 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Baylor University via EurekAlert!

A Universal Scientific Language For Human Well-Being

The most extensive empirical investigation into human thriving ever conducted has transitioned into an open access phase. Co-directed by Byron R. Johnson of Baylor University and Tyler VanderWeele of Harvard University, the Global Flourishing Study has officially released its first two waves of data to the public. This initiative aims to provide a rigorous, shared language for understanding what constitutes a successful life across diverse cultural contexts. By removing registration requirements for the primary dataset, the organizers hope to empower researchers, journalists, and policymakers to utilize these findings to address global challenges. The release follows the publication of over 100 peer-reviewed articles, including a substantial collection within the Nature Portfolio.

Measuring The Six Essential Domains Of Flourishing

The study tracks approximately 200,000 participants across 22 countries and one territory, utilizing a framework that spans six distinct domains of life. These categories include happiness and life satisfaction, physical and mental health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, close social relationships, and financial and material stability. By surveying the same individuals across multiple waves, the research moves beyond simple correlation and begins to address causal questions that typical cross-sectional studies cannot solve. This longitudinal approach allows scientists to observe how changes in one area of life, such as social connections or financial status, directly impact a person's overall sense of flourishing over time.

The Rising Crisis In Youth Well-Being

Initial analysis of the GFS data has revealed a significant and troubling reversal in global well-being trends. Traditionally, older populations reported lower levels of well-being compared to the youth, but the new data shows that young adults are now struggling more than their predecessors. This shift signals an urgent need for targeted research and policy interventions to understand the modern pressures affecting youth flourishing. According to the study directors, this trend is visible across multiple regions, suggesting that the challenges facing the younger generation are not isolated to specific geographic locations but are instead a broader global phenomenon that requires immediate attention from he...