International Journal of Wellbeing· 2012Q1
The challenge of defining wellbeing
- 1,904citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2012year
Short summary
A new definition of wellbeing is proposed, centering on a state of equilibrium or balance affected by life events, moving beyond previous attempts that focused only on dimensions.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Wellbeing research is expanding, but a universally accepted definition is missing.
- Previous definitions often focused on dimensions of wellbeing rather than its fundamental nature.
- Key theoretical perspectives include dynamic equilibrium theory, life challenges on homeostasis, and lifespan development.
- A new definition is proposed, defining wellbeing as a state of equilibrium or balance affected by life events.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Wellbeing is a growing area of research, yet the question of how it should be defined remains unanswered.This multi-disciplinary review explores past attempts to define wellbeing and provides an overview of the main theoretical perspectives, from the work of Aristotle to the present day.The article argues that many attempts at expressing its nature have focused purely on dimensions of wellbeing, rather than on definition.Among these theoretical perspectives, we highlight the pertinence of dynamic equilibrium theory of wellbeing (Headey & Wearing, 1989), the effect of life challenges on homeostasis (Cummins, 2010) and the lifespan model of development (Hendry & Kloep, 2002).Consequently, we conclude that it would be appropriate for a new definition of wellbeing to centre on a state of equilibrium or balance that can be affected by life events or challenges.The article closes by proposing this new definition, which we believe to be simple, universal in application, optimistic and a basis for measurement.This definition conveys the multi-faceted nature of wellbeing and can help individuals and policy makers move forward in their understanding of this popular term.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. International Journal of Wellbeing, 2012 · DOI ↗
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Field: Social Psychology
Social PsychologyPsychology