A poll of over 2,000 adults conducted by ComRes on behalf of Christian Research, shows that a quarter of the population are more positive about their personal well-being now than they were at the start of the year, peaking amongst 18-24s (38%) and 25-34 (32%) year olds. Around a fifth of the population also feel more positive about their local neighbourhood, compared with British society in general (10%) and world affairs (8%).

2011 saw a series of tumultuous epic events - the toppling of Arab tyrants, the killing of Osama Bin Laden, a devastating tsunami struck north east Japan, earthquakes hit New Zealand and Turkey, CERN discovered the ‘neutrino’ and the 7 billionth human-being was welcomed onto the planet. Britain was aglow with a spring royal marriage, phone-hacking scandals bubbled-up, inner cities erupted into lawlessness, the eurozone melted down and public sector job cuts intensified. The poll shows that 58% and 54%, respectively, feel more negative about world affairs and British society in general than this time last year.

Seismic shifts have taken place – with global finance and domestic social instability featuring consistently. Volatile financial markets and Christmas’ consumer emphasis have had marginally less strong an effect on causing us to consider faith-based moral values (both 24%). The Occupy LSX protest, still encamped on the steps of St. Paul’s, has had a lesser impact (19%), as the potential insecurity of job loss (74% ‘no difference’).

Whereas, interestingly, both Arab uprisings and the summer’s civil unrest have had the most pronounced effect on triggering reflection of faith based moral values, especially amongst the older population. This may be evidence of a ‘generational effect’, reflective of those having been more fully aware of the ‘rise and fall’ of Gadaffi, Mubarak, Yemeni or Tunisian leaders. Nonetheless, it has stirred a significant minority of us to think more deeply about faith-based spiritual or moral values, the summer unrest also triggering some reflection amongst the young.

However, 53% of the population intends to participate in some way in marking the Christian celebration of Christmas, including either watching/listening to a Christmas service, attending a church service on Christmas eve or day , going to a carol service or nativity play, singing carols or reading the Bible’s account of Christ’s birth. Numbers are likely to be significantly higher in the South West (62%) than for London (48%) (does this reflect a seasonal exodus from the capital?), and similarly is far higher amongst those aged 35+ (49-62%) compared with 18-24s (62% not intending to do any). Broadly-speaking, females will be praying, singing carols and attending nativity plays, more so than men.

The British Household Panel Study has discovered a strong link between personal well-being and connectedness. Recent studies too have concluded that ‘…the well connected are more likely to be hired, housed, healthy and happy’. With the coalition government’s ‘Big Society’ aspirations rendered largely dysfunctional, those who profess a Christian faith appear more likely to ‘actively look out for their neighbour’s welfare’ than non-Christians, 62% vs  48%.

51% of those polled affiliated with the Christian faith, in comparison with 53% who identified as Christian in Ipsos Mori’s April 2011 ‘global @dvisor’ survey (higher than the average of 47% surveyed across the study’s 24 countries). Close-knit communities benefit most individuals, whereas disengagement can breed loneliness. Robert Putnam, Harvard professor of public policy, has observed that Western societies are more affluent, mobile and more individualised than ever before, but are gradually becoming more ‘atomised’.

Research conducted by Demos for The Young Foundation found a strong correlation (r² = 0.844) between well-being and ‘everyday democracy’. In other words, the ability to have a stake in influencing [policy] decision-making at a local or local community level has a definitive impact on our predisposition to feel useful/valued/in control (of our destiny?).

This poll shows Christians as more geared-up to proactively involve themselves in addressing the needs of their neighbourhoods – to ‘make a difference’. Perhaps, this is an extension of the cohesive ‘church family’ networks church-goers can experience, when united in faith, they striving to reach out and express values characteristic of the Christian faith among each of their neighbours.

If this plays out in 2012, it seems Christians do recognise the difference they can make within society, given the unpredictable shocks and changes that society seems regularly exposed to.