well-being

Introduction

Well-being is a multifaceted construct that encompasses various dimensions of optimal experience and functioning. Research on well-being has evolved to include both hedonic (pleasure and happiness) and eudaimonic (meaning and self-realization) perspectives. This synthesis aims to present key insights from multiple research papers on the topic of well-being.

Key Insights

Dimensions of Well-Being:
- Psychological well-being includes six distinct dimensions: autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance .
- These dimensions are often impaired in individuals with mood and anxiety disorders, and improving them can lead to better mental health outcomes .
Hedonic vs. Eudaimonic Well-Being:
- Hedonic well-being focuses on happiness and pleasure attainment, while eudaimonic well-being emphasizes meaning, self-realization, and personal growth .
- Eudaimonic well-being is more strongly linked to positive biological markers such as lower cortisol levels and better cardiovascular health compared to hedonic well-being.
Measurement of Well-Being:
- Various scales exist to measure well-being, including the Life Satisfaction Index, Bradburn Affect Balance Scale, and Ryff's scales of psychological well-being. These scales vary in their psychometric properties and conceptual approaches .
- There is ongoing debate about the adequacy of these measures in capturing the full scope of well-being .
Clinical Applications:
- Well-being therapy (WBT), based on Ryff's model, has been shown to improve psychological well-being and reduce relapse rates in patients with mood and anxiety disorders when combined with cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) .
- WBT has demonstrated significant and persistent benefits in treating conditions like cyclothymic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Cultural and Individual Differences:
- Well-being is influenced by various factors including age, socio-economic status, and cultural context. There is no single right way to achieve well-being, as it varies from person to person .
- Personality assets and contextual variables such as work, family life, and social ties play a crucial role in determining an individual's well-being.

Conclusion

Research on well-being highlights the importance of both hedonic and eudaimonic perspectives, with a strong emphasis on the latter for long-term health benefits. The six dimensions of psychological well-being provide a comprehensive framework for understanding and improving mental health. Various measurement scales exist, but their adequacy remains a topic of debate. Clinical applications like well-being therapy show promise in enhancing psychological well-being and resilience, particularly when integrated with other therapeutic approaches. Individual and cultural differences underscore the need for personalized strategies in promoting well-being.

Try another search

How can the principles of functional training be applied to enhance daily life and prevent injuries?

How can I integrate mindfulness practices into my daily routine for stress reduction?

How do clouds form?

Why do we have allergies?

information technology

How do we understand and model chemical kinetics?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

The structure of psychological well-being revisited.

The 6-factor model of psychological well-being, encompassing autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance, is superior in fit and accuracy compared to single-factor and artifactual models.

Psychological Well-Being in Adult Life

Positive psychological functioning is defined as the presence of the positive, which is a more comprehensive concept than the absence of mental illness.

The clinical role of psychological well‐being

Well-being therapy, a combination of cognitive behavior therapy and well-being therapy, can significantly improve psychological well-being and resilience in patients with mood and anxiety disorders.

On happiness and human potentials: a review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being.

Well-being is a complex construct encompassing happiness and meaning, with hedonic and eudaimonic perspectives offering complementary insights and new research opportunities.

Measures of self-perceived well-being.

Most psychological well-being measures perform adequately for survey research, but their adequacy for evaluating healthcare interventions remains inconclusive.

Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being.

Key aspects of psychological well-being, such as self-acceptance, positive relations with others, autonomy, purpose in life, and personal growth, are not strongly tied to prior assessment indexes.

Dimensions of mental health: Life satisfaction, positive affect, anxiety and depression

Life satisfaction, positive affect, anxiety, and depression are four dimensions of mental health, and the distinction between well-being and distress is misleading.

Measuring Well-Being

There is considerable disagreement on how to properly understand and measure well-being, with 42 self-report instruments varying in length, psychometric properties, and conceptualization and operationalization.

Positive health: connecting well-being with biology.

Higher levels of eudaimonic well-being are associated with lower levels of cortisol, inflammation, cardiovascular risk, and longer REM sleep duration in ageing women.

Increasing psychological well-being and resilience by psychotherapeutic methods.

Well-being therapy promotes psychological well-being and resilience, leading to decreased vulnerability to depression and anxiety in high-risk populations.

Try another search