Psychological Well-being

In contrast to psychology’s long-standing focus on individuals’ problems and disorders (the disease model), the positive psychology movement has emphasized enhancing quality of life and well-being by concentrating on individuals’ strengths and potential rather than their deficiencies. According to this perspective, being healthy requires more than merely the absence of problems; it also necessitates being in a good state physically, mentally, and socially.

Well-being is examined in the literature under two major headings:

Subjective Well-Being (Hedonic Perspective)

This approach, often used synonymously with happiness, is based on an individual’s cognitive evaluation of life satisfaction and the frequent experience of positive emotions alongside infrequent negative emotions (affective evaluation).

Psychological Well-Being (Eudaimonic Perspective)

This is a deeper and more comprehensive approach that emphasizes that feeling well involves more than just happiness; it includes self-development and the realization of one’s potential. Psychological well-being is the capacity to manage existential challenges such as pursuing meaningful life goals, fostering personal growth, and building high-quality relationships with others.

Six Core Dimensions of Optimal Functioning

Psychological well-being is studied through Ryff’s multidimensional model, which links well-being to an individual’s ability to realize themselves, use their potential most effectively, and take responsibility for their own life. These dimensions are:

Self-Acceptance

The ability to hold a positive attitude toward one’s past by acknowledging both strengths and weaknesses.

Autonomy

The capacity to resist social pressures and make independent decisions.

Positive Relations with Others

The ability to form warm, trusting, and satisfying social relationships.

Environmental Mastery

The awareness of and competence in managing one’s environment.

Personal Growth

The experience of continuous development and awareness of one’s potential.

Purpose in Life

The sense that one’s life has direction, meaning, and a long-term goal to strive toward.

Key Resources That Enhance Well-Being: Hope, Optimism, and Meaning

Research has shown that internal resources such as hope, optimism, a sense of meaning, and mindful awareness play critical roles in determining levels of psychological and subjective well-being.

Hope

Hope is not merely an emotion; it is a complex process involving the setting of life goals, the generation of motivation to achieve them (agency thinking), and the identification of alternative pathways (pathways thinking). Individuals with high levels of hope do not allow emotional obstacles to halt them and cope with problems in more constructive ways.

Optimism

Optimism is a general belief or expectation that good things will happen in the future. It serves as a protective buffer against stressful events; optimistic individuals perceive difficulties not as threats but as challenges to be overcome. Research has demonstrated that optimism is the strongest predictor of subjective well-being (happiness).

Meaning in Life

Having a meaningful life means perceiving one’s existence as coherent, purposeful, and worth living. Individuals who report finding meaning in life tend to be healthier and happier. However, the search for meaning in life is often described as a painful and distressing process, and this state is typically inversely related to levels of happiness.

Other Important Influencers

Another significant determinant of psychological well-being is mindful awareness, which involves paying open and attentive attention to present experiences and emotions. Mindful awareness allows individuals to experience negative emotions such as pain and sadness directly rather than suppressing them, thereby contributing to self-acceptance and well-being. While cognitive flexibility (the ability to adapt to changing circumstances) is positively associated with well-being, it has not been found to be as strong a predictor as hope or mindful awareness.

The Role of Demographic Factors

Levels of psychological well-being can vary according to demographic characteristics:

Gender

Studies have found that female participants generally exhibit higher levels of psychological well-being than males. This is attributed to women’s greater tendency to express themselves openly and form more intimate, trust-based relationships. On the other hand, men may report higher levels of hope than women.

Marital Status and Parenthood

Married adults and those with children have been found to display higher levels of psychological well-being, hope, and mindful awareness compared to single individuals and those without children. Marriage and parenthood provide individuals with important social support and meaningful future-oriented goals.

Employment Status

Employed adults have higher levels of psychological well-being and hope than those who are unemployed. Employment helps individuals recognize their potential and赋予 their lives greater meaning.