1. Summary
640 new participants were (fictionally) enrolled across four quarterly cohorts in 2027. 368 (57%) responded at day 365. Mean overall life satisfaction among respondents was 5.91 at baseline and 6.46 at day 365 (unadjusted). 23% of people with both measurements reported lower life satisfaction at one year, and 24% reported no change of one point or more.
These are observational associations. They do not show that The Journey caused any change.
2. Methodology
Prospective cohort; five waves (baseline, days 90, 180, 270, 365; ±14 day windows). Primary outcome: OECD overall life satisfaction (0–10), baseline to day 365. Secondary: Cantril ladder, worthwhile, life domains, eudaimonic items, WHO-5 (0–100), Journey exploratory items. Pre-specified analysis: linear mixed-effects model with random intercepts and slopes per participant; time as a categorical fixed effect; programme track as covariate. See protocol.
3. Sample characteristics
| Programme | Enrolled | Day 365 n | Baseline LS | Day 365 LS | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90-day Mentorship | 389 | 213 | 5.88 | 6.38 | +0.50 |
| 12-month Trainer Certification | 158 | 96 | 5.89 | 6.35 | +0.46 |
| 18-month Practitioner Accreditation | 93 | 59 | 6.06 | 6.88 | +0.82 |
Age bands with fewer than 10 day-365 respondents are suppressed: none.
4. Results
Positive
Mean life satisfaction +0.55 points; WHO-5 +5.46 points; Journey exploratory composite +0.63. Higher at day 365 for 53% of completers.
Neutral
Worthwhile changed by +0.46 points. Most of the change in means occurs between baseline and day 90 and then plateaus — a pattern also consistent with regression to the mean and early-enthusiasm effects.
Negative
85 of 368 completers (23%) reported life satisfaction at least one point lower at day 365. The study cannot distinguish programme-related from unrelated causes; free-text reflections and external-event reports will be reviewed qualitatively in aggregate.
5. Attrition and missing data
Response fell from 100% at baseline to 83%, 74%, 68% and 57% at days 90–365. Day-365 completers had baseline life satisfaction 5.92 compared to 5.9 for non-completers, indicating possible differential attrition. Sensitivity analyses (multiple imputation; pattern-mixture models with δ-adjustment) are pre-specified.
6. Limitations
- No comparison group; no causal inference.
- Self-selection into the programme and into the study.
- Self-report measures; Journey items not validated.
- Translation and licensing of instruments pending verification.
7. Technical source and measurement notes
- Primary outcome: OECD overall life satisfaction, 0–10, worded per the OECD Guidelines on Measuring Subjective Well-being (2025 update); some wording pending verification.
- Cantril present ladder, 0–10 (Cantril, 1965), as used in the Gallup World Poll (Life Evaluation Index; World Happiness Report). Gallup thriving/struggling/suffering categories require both present and five-year future ladders; the future item is optional here and was not analysed in this demonstration, so no categories are reported.
- WHO-5 (WHO): raw 0–25 × 4 = 0–100; higher is better; not diagnostic. Change threshold ±10 points.
- Journey exploratory composite: mean of four unvalidated study-specific items; not an OECD or WHO measure.
- All reported changes are unadjusted associations in synthetic data. Gallup, the OECD and the WHO are not partners and have not endorsed or reviewed this report.
8. Independent review
In a real report, this section would contain the independent scientific adviser's commentary. That role is currently unappointed. No review has taken place.