Top 230 Most Cited Publications in Happiness and Well-Being Research (1960–2025)

This dataset contains a curated sample of the 230 most cited publications in happiness and well-being (HWB) research. It was created as part of an integrative literature review (ILR) aimed at developing the Integrative Framework of Happiness and Well-Being, identifying core concepts, constructs, measurement approaches, theoretical assumptions, and correlates of HWB across disciplines. The dataset was constructed using a sequential citation-based sampling strategy. The dataset serves as the analysis basis for the following paper: Kochems, R. (2026): Towards a Multidisciplinary Understanding of Happiness in Research and Practice: The Integrative Framework of Happiness and Well-Being [Preprint]. SSRN. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6244039