Scandinavian Countries: Models of Stress Management and Happiness by Nancy Gheysens

Scandinavian countries—primarily Denmark, Sweden, and Norway—consistently rank among the happiest nations in the world, according to global reports like the World Happiness Report. Their societies are often admired not only for high living standards, but also for their remarkable approach to stress management and mental well-being.

By travelling to the Norwegian fjords I wanted to go a bit deeper into what makes these countries so happy. Personally I found the nature unbelievably beautiful—the combination of green vegetation and blue sky even when there was a cloud in the sky.

I also noticed that a great deal of attention is given to safety. Our excursion, for example, could only depart after a safety inspection was carried out by a government agency.

Key Factors in Norway’s Happiness

1. Access to Nature (“Friluftsliv”)
o In Norway there is a strong cultural tradition called friluftsliv (“openair life”) which
emphasises spending time outdoors—mountains, forests, fjords, coast, etc.

o Studies show that spending time in natural settings improves physical and mental
health, mood, reduces stress, etc. Even simply being in green space, or seeing
greenery, has positive effects.

2. Social Support, Equality, Safety, Trust
o Social safety nets, free education, good access to healthcare are common in
Norway. These reduce stress related to finances or falling ill, etc.

o Low crime, high sense of safety, high trust in public institutions also correlate
strongly with happiness.

3. Worklife Balance & Autonomy
o There’s evidence people in Norway enjoy a good balance between work and
leisure, have freedoms to choose how to live (including time to go outdoors).

4. Environmental Quality & Aesthetics
o The natural environment itself (fjords, forests, mountains, coastlines) is a major
contributor. Research specifically in Norway found that access to outdoor spaces
and natural green settings is strongly related to subjective wellbeing.

o Also, the visual contrast and variety (green vegetation, blue sky, water, clouds)
can be restorative to the mind—these are consistent with theories of
environmental psychology (restoration, attention restoration, biophilia)..

Cultural Concepts of Well-being in Scandinavia

Each country also promotes its own cultural approach to happiness:

• Denmark is known for hygge, the feeling of coziness, comfort, and togetherness. Here I can highly recommend the book Hygge from Louisa Thomsen Brits available in all languages and staples of books at the Copenhagen airport. This book invites you to slightly change your daily habits to have some more hygge. My favorite hygge moment is curling up with a warm cup of tea, wrapped in a cozy blanket, lost in a good book, with the soft glow of candlelight around me. My stay in Copenhagen was too short, I definitely would like to go back and take more time to visit the Lykke museet, the Happiness Museum. https:/www.thehappinessmuseum.com/
• Sweden embraces lagom, the idea of "just the right amount"—a life of balance and moderation.
• Norway values koselig, a concept similar to hygge but with a stronger focus on simplicity and natural beauty.
  

These philosophies encourage mindfulness, gratitude, and emotional resilience—key ingredients for managing stress in a healthy way.

Sources

Dixon, R. (2023, September 27). The Norwegian secret: How friluftsliv boosts health and happiness. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/sep/27/the-norwegian-secret-how-friluftsliv-boosts-health-and-happiness

GrauRuiz, R., Løvoll, H. S., & Dyrdal, G. M. (2024). Norwegian outdoor happiness: Residential outdoor spaces and active leisure time contributions to subjective wellbeing at the national population level at the start of and during the COVID19 pandemic. Journal of Happiness Studies, 25(1), Article 9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s1090202400732z