How the Social Well‑Being Score is calculated

Each slider is rated from 1 to 10. Two sliders — Loneliness and Conflict — are inverted because higher values typically reduce social well‑being. We convert them into positive “buffer” signals: Belonging‑buffer from low loneliness, and Harmony from low conflict.

• Connection = connection
• Support = support
• Belonging = belonging
• Harmony = 11 − conflict
• Loneliness‑buffer = 11 − loneliness
• Authenticity = authenticity
• Contribution = contribution

Social well‑being is not one thing, so we use a weighted blend. The weights are chosen for practical reasons: connection, support, and belonging are often the “core”; loneliness and conflict are the big drains; authenticity and contribution tend to stabilize relationships over time.

• Connection: 20%
• Support: 18%
• Belonging: 16%
• Loneliness‑buffer (inverted loneliness): 16%
• Harmony (inverted conflict): 12%
• Authenticity: 10%
• Contribution: 8%

The weighted result is between 1 and 10. We convert it to a 0–100 score using: ((weighted − 1) ÷ 9) × 100. This means 1 maps to 0, 10 maps to 100, and everything else becomes an easy-to-read social wellness percentage.

Let’s say your sliders are: Connection 7, Support 6, Belonging 7, Loneliness 3, Conflict 4, Authenticity 8, Contribution 6. We invert loneliness and conflict: Loneliness‑buffer = 8, Harmony = 7. Then we compute the weighted average:

• 0.20×7 + 0.18×6 + 0.16×7 + 0.16×8 + 0.12×7 + 0.10×8 + 0.08×6 = 7.00
• Scaled: ((7.00 − 1) ÷ 9)×100 ≈ 66.7 → 67/100

Interpretation: you’re in a “doing okay” zone — good connection and authenticity. The next best move is often improving the lowest lever (support) by 1 point, not reinventing your life.

Sliders: Connection 5, Support 4, Belonging 5, Loneliness 8, Conflict 7, Authenticity 6, Contribution 3. Inversions: Loneliness‑buffer 3, Harmony 4. Weighted average:

• 0.20×5 + 0.18×4 + 0.16×5 + 0.16×3 + 0.12×4 + 0.10×6 + 0.08×3 = 4.32
• Scaled: ((4.32 − 1) ÷ 9)×100 ≈ 36.9 → 37/100

Interpretation: “struggling / disconnected” doesn’t mean you’re broken — it means your current social environment is not meeting your needs, or you’re under heavy strain. The tool will suggest small stabilizers (reduce conflict exposure, strengthen one support line, and rebuild contribution slowly).

What to do with your number

A score is only helpful if it leads to clearer decisions. The best way to use this index is to treat it like a “social weather report.” Weather isn’t your fault — but it helps you decide what to wear.

• Pick one day each week (Sunday night works for many).
• Use the timeframe “Last 7 days” and save the result.
• Circle the lowest slider (or the lowest inverted buffer) and choose one tiny action.
• Re‑check next week and look for direction, not perfection.

• Support: ask one person for something small (advice, a favor, a check‑in).
• Belonging: show up twice to the same place (repetition builds belonging).
• Loneliness: do a low‑stakes “micro‑connection” (barista chat, neighbor hello).
• Conflict: reduce exposure to the highest‑tension interaction this week.
• Authenticity: share one true thing with a safe person (values, preference, boundary).
• Contribution: be the person who initiates once (invite, plan, help).

If you want to share it (for virality), use the copy/share buttons after you calculate. The shared text only includes your final score and label — not your individual slider values.

What “social well‑being” really means (and what it doesn’t)

Social well‑being is often misunderstood as a popularity contest. In reality, it’s closer to a “felt sense”: do you experience your social life as safe, supportive, and meaningful? You can have many acquaintances and still feel lonely, or have a small circle and feel deeply connected.

This index is intentionally simple. It is not trying to measure every part of human relationships. Instead, it focuses on seven signals that tend to predict whether someone feels socially nourished or socially drained. The point is not to judge yourself. The point is to identify your next best lever.

We chose sliders that are: (1) easy to self‑rate quickly, (2) relevant across different cultures and personalities, and (3) actionable. Each slider is a “doorway” into a small set of behaviors you can change without needing a total life reset.

• Connection: The emotional closeness signal. If this is low, you may be around people but not truly “with” them. Improving this usually looks like fewer interactions with higher quality: deeper conversations, shared activities, or more presence.
• Support: The safety‑net signal. Support is about who you can rely on when life gets real. It’s normal for this to fluctuate. A powerful move is to “test” support with a small ask (not a dramatic one), and notice who responds.
• Belonging: The identity fit signal. Belonging is where you can be in the room and not feel like you have to perform. Belonging is often built through repetition and shared context (teams, communities, routines).
• Loneliness: The unmet‑need signal. Loneliness is not a moral failing. It’s a biological alert that your connection needs aren’t met. Because higher loneliness tends to reduce well‑being, we invert it into a buffer: “how protected are you from loneliness lately?”
• Conflict: The friction signal. Conflict is part of relationships — the problem is persistent, unresolved tension. High conflict often consumes your social energy and can make you withdraw. We invert it into “harmony” for scoring.
• Authenticity: The alignment signal. If you’re constantly masking, you’ll feel exhausted even if you’re surrounded by people. Authenticity doesn’t mean oversharing — it means you can express preferences, values, and boundaries without fear.
• Contribution: The reciprocity signal. Humans bond when we do things together and for each other. Contribution is not “people pleasing”; it’s a healthy sense that you participate, initiate, and add value.

Two of the sliders represent “drains.” On the raw scale, a higher number is worse. But to combine everything fairly, the score needs to treat “better” as “higher.” That’s why we convert: Harmony = 11 − conflict and Loneliness‑buffer = 11 − loneliness. This keeps the math consistent and makes the final score more intuitive.

The label is not your identity. It’s a snapshot. Scores can change quickly with life events (moving, job stress, breakup, new community, family issues). The label is a shortcut for “what kind of week did your social system give you?”

• Thriving (80–100): Your social basics are strong. Protect them. Don’t take them for granted.
• Doing okay (65–79): Mostly stable with a few weak points. Improve one lever by 1 point.
• Mixed / fragile (45–64): Some nourishment, some drain. Reduce tension, strengthen support.
• Disconnected (0–44): Your system feels thin or stressful. Go gentle and rebuild slowly.

Instead of trying to overhaul your social life, pick the lowest slider and aim to raise it by one point over the next week. One point is small enough to be doable, and big enough to change your experience. This rule also works for the inverted sliders: reduce loneliness or conflict by one point.

Introversion isn’t a problem — it’s a preference for lower stimulation. Many introverts thrive with fewer, deeper connections. If your score is low, focus on authenticity, support, and belonging more than “more social events.” You’re aiming for right‑sized connection, not constant connection.

Finally: if you’re feeling hopeless, unsafe, or stuck, please reach out to a trusted person or a licensed professional. Tools like this can support insight, but they’re not a replacement for care.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is this a clinical or diagnostic test?

  No. It’s a self‑reflection tool. It can help you notice patterns, but it does not diagnose loneliness, depression, anxiety, or any condition.

• How often should I use the Social Well‑Being Index?

  Weekly is ideal (Last 7 days). Daily can be useful during a life transition, but trends matter more than a single day.

• Why does “Contribution” affect my score?

  Contribution is a proxy for reciprocity and initiative. Even small acts (inviting, helping, showing up) increase the chances of connection over time.

• What if my score is low but I have friends?

  Then the issue may be fit, conflict, or authenticity — not “lack of people.” Use the lowest slider to pinpoint what’s missing.

• What if my loneliness score is high?

  Start tiny: one low‑stakes message, one recurring community, one honest conversation with a safe person. If it feels severe or persistent, consider professional support.

• Do you store my answers?

  No. Inputs stay in your browser. If you click “Save,” only the score + label + timeframe are stored locally on your device (not on a server).