Healthways (HWAY) and Gallup recently announced the results of the Gallup-Healthways Monthly U.S. Well-Being Report for October 2010. The overall index, The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, stood at 66.5 in October, up very marginally from 66.4 in the preceding month, which was the lowest score year to date in 2010. The minor up-tick in October was driven by a slight upward movement in the component indices, namely, Life Evaluation Index, the Emotional Health Index and Work Environment Index.

The Emotional Health Index reversed a four-month losing streak by nudging up to 79.3 in October. The number of participants who reported doing something interesting rose to 64.3% in September, the highest level achieved by this metric, which was subsequently maintained in October.

The Life Evaluation Index, a measure of human optimism for the future, moved up slightly to 49.3 in October after dropping to its lowest mark (in more than 14 months) of 48.4 in September. This metric continued to be depressed by the low percentage (52.6%) of Americans who were thriving. The average rank for everyday life in October was 6.9 on a 10-point scale, which marks the second consecutive month of lower than 7.

A third component of the composite measure, the Work Environment Index, showed some enhancement in October, moving up from 47.6 in September to 48.1. It is noteworthy that the Work Environment Index was above 50 throughout 2008, so its current levels – including two consecutive months of nadir in August and September – reveal that the metric is yet to recover from the economic downturn.

Healthways is a prominent vendor of specialized and composite solutions, enabling recipients to maintain or improve their wellbeing and, consequently, reduce systemic healthcare costs. The company’s solutions are intended to keep people healthy and mitigate lifestyle risk factors that can cause disease and optimize care for those with chronic illness. Healthways competes with Express Scripts (ESRX) among others.

Gallup is known for providing timely and pertinent research on opinion. The company employs scientists in disciplines such as economics, sociology, management and psychology. Its consultants identify and monitor behavioral economic indicators on a world-wide basis, thereby enabling companies to increase organic growth.

 
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