Embracing the Individuality of Well-Being

In positive psychology, well-being is not a universal template but a deeply personal creation. A systematic review of literature from 1999 to 2024 confirms that well-being resists a singular definition, as it is intricately tied to each individual’s unique lived experiences.

Chida and Steptoe (2008) link positive psychological well-being, such as optimism, to health outcomes like reduced mortality. However, the expression of optimism—whether through a hopeful outlook or proactive coping—varies across individuals and cultures. Similarly, Youssef-Morgan and Luthans (2015) highlight how psychological capital, encompassing traits like hope and resilience, shapes well-being in ways that are unique to each person’s context.

This individuality is evident across diverse populations. For adolescents, Viejo et al. (2018) note that well-being involves dimensions such as self-acceptance and interpersonal relationships, which differ based on developmental stages and personal experiences. In contrast, Berkowsky (2020) explores how elder mistreatment affects well-being in older adults, emphasising eudaimonic aspects like purpose in life that vary by individual circumstances.

The subjective nature of well-being is further reinforced by Su et al. (2014), who developed the Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving to capture a wide range of well-being constructs. Their work underscores that well-being spans emotional vitality to social connectedness, with each element weighted differently based on an individual’s life.

Embracing the individuality of well-being fosters a more inclusive approach in positive psychology. By designing interventions that honour personal experiences—whether through tailored therapies or community-based programmes—we can support individuals in cultivating well-being that is authentically their own.

References

Berkowsky, R. W. (2020). Elder mistreatment and psychological well-being among older Americans. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(20), Article 7525. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207525

Chida, Y., & Steptoe, A. (2008). Positive psychological well-being and mortality: A quantitative review of prospective observational studies. Psychosomatic Medicine, 70(7), 741–756. https://doi.org/10.1097/psy.0b013e31818105ba

Su, R., Tay, L., & Diener, E. (2014). The development and validation of the comprehensive inventory of thriving (CIT) and the brief inventory of thriving (BIT). Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 6(3), 251–279. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12027

Viejo, C., Gómez-López, M., & Ortega-Ruiz, R. (2018). Adolescents’ psychological well-being: A multidimensional measure. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(10), Article 2325. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15102325

Youssef-Morgan, C. M., & Luthans, F. (2015). Psychological capital and well-being. Stress and Health, 31(3), 180–188. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.2623

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