Subjective Wellbeing - Diener 1984

Wellbeing = = a state of happiness and contentment, with low levels of distress, overall good physical and mental health and outlook or good quality of life.

Subjective wellbeing = a person’s evaluation of their own level of happiness and life satisfaction.

In self-report measures of subjective well-being, two components are examined:

1. Affective Balance = refers to the daily balance between positive and negative emotions that an individual experiences in their daily life.

Affect= the experience and outward expression of emotion.

The ratio of pleasant and unpleasant experiences is closely related to mood and emotional states of the individual and make up the emotional measure of wellbeing.

Positive affect = the internal feeling state that occurs when a goal has been attained, a source of threat has been avoided, or the individual is satisfied with the present state of affairs. The tendency to experience such states is called positive affectivity.

Negative affect = the internal feeling state (affect) that occurs when one has failed to achieve a goal or to avoid a threat or when one is not satisfied with the current state of affairs. The tendency to experienced such states is known as negative affectivity.

1. Life Satisfaction = refers to how satisfied an individual is with their life as a whole. It is a cognitive assessment of one’s life circumstances and experiences including work, relationships and finances.

Signs of Subjective Wellbeing:

• socially engaged

• perceived excellent conditions

• accepting of others

• independence

• self acceptance

• community support

• sense of purpose

• more positive than negative

• belonging accepted by others

• physical wellness

• engage in spiritual practices

• mastering important areas

• real life = ideal life

Causes of Subjective Wellbeing:

• Basic resources: having what you need in life (money, housing, healthcare), is an important part of your subjective sense of well-being

• Personality and temperament: your inborn temperament can affect your happiness levels throughout life. Your personality is another key component. Traits such as extroversion tend to be linked to more positive feelings about life, which neuroticism tends to be connected to a more negative outlook.

• Mindset and Resilience: People who maintain a positive mindset and who possess a strong sense of resilience tend to feel more optimistic even when facing difficult life events.

• Social support: research has shown that having social support has a powerful impact on both physical and mental wellbeing.

• Societal factors: characteristics of the society in which you live, including whether it is affected by problems such as crime, war, poverty or conflict, can also influence how you feel about your life.