MEASUREMENT OF WELL-

BEING

Positive Psychology
DYPSYPos313
Episode 4
WELL-BEING

• the state of being

comfortable,
healthy, or happy
(Oxford Dictionary)
Key Terms on Contemporary Wellbeing Constructs
Wellbeing    
Construct Definition Reference
Hedonic Focuses on happiness and defines wellbeing in terms Ryan and Deci
wellbeing of pleasure attainment and pain avoidance “ the (2001)
predominant view among hedonic psychologists is that
wellbeing consists of subjective happiness and
concerns the experience of pleasure versus
displeasure broadly construed to include all judgements
about the good/bad elements of life. Happiness is thus
not reducible to physical hedonism, for it can be derived
from attainment of goals or valued outcomes in varied
realms”
Eudaimonic Based on Aristotle’s view that true happiness comes Gale et al. (2013)
wellbeing from doing what is worth doing – focuses on meaning
self-realization, and defines wellbeing largely in terms
of ways of thought and behavior that provides
fulfillment.
Key Terms on Contemporary Wellbeing Constructs
Wellbeing    
Construct Definition Reference
Psychological Each dimension of psychological wellbeing articulates different challenges Keyes (2002)
wellbeing individuals encounter as they strive to function positively. That is, people
attempt to feel good about themselves even while aware of their own
limitations (self-acceptance). They also seek to develop and maintain warm
and trusting interpersonal relationships (positive relations with others) and
to shape their environment so as to meet personal needs and desires
(environmental mastery). In situating individuality within larger social
context, people also seek sense of self determination and personal authority
(autonomy). A vital endeavor is to find meaning in one’s effort and
challenges (purpose in life). Lastly, making the most of one’s talents and
capacities (personal growth) is central to psychological wellbeing.

Social Keyes (1998) conceived of a five-component model of social wellbeing: Gallagher et al. (2009)
wellbeing social integration, social contribution, social coherence, social actualization,
and social acceptance. These five elements, taken together, indicate
whether and to what degree individuals are overcoming social challenges
and are functioning well in their social world (alongside neighbors,
coworkers, and fellow world citizens).
Key Terms on Contemporary Wellbeing Constructs

Wellbeing    
Construct Definition Reference
Positive There are ten features representing positive aspects of Huppert and So
wellbeing mental functioning: competence, emotional stability, (2013)
engagement, meaning, optimism, positive emotions, positive
relationship, resilience, self-esteem, and vitality… it includes
both hedonic and eudaimonic (positive feeling and positive
functioning)
Measuring Wellbeing
• Measuring human well-being requires the subjective act of
defining and creating models and measurements of that
which defines health and quality of life.
• This requires an opinion of what it means to be a "whole
human being" as well as what is worthwhile in life, and
how we ought to live.
• Subjective well-being is measured through surveys asking
people about their satisfaction and happiness about
multiple facets of well-being. Their findings can be an
important complement in understanding what matters in
people's day-to-day lives.
Carol Ryff’s Six-factor Model of Psychological
Well-being

• Ryff’s model of Psychological Well-being differs from

past models in one important way: well-being is
multidimensional, and not merely about happiness, or
positive emotions. A good life is balanced and whole,
engaging each of the different aspects of well-being,
instead of being narrowly focused.
Carol Ryff’s Six-factor Model of Psychological Well-being
• Six factors which contribute to an individual's
psychological well-being, contentment and happiness.
1. Autonomy
2. Environmental Mastery
3. Personal Growth
4. Positive Relations with Others
5. Purpose in Life
6. Self-acceptance
Carol Ryff’s Six-factor Model of Psychological
Well-being

• The Ryff Scale of Measurement is a psychometric

inventory consisting of two forms (either 54 or 84
items) in which respondents rate statements on a
scale of 1 to 6, where 1 indicates strong
disagreement and 6 indicates strong agreement.
Carol Ryff’s Six-factor Model of Psychological Well-being
Autonomy
• High Autonomy: You are self-determining and
independent; are able to resist social pressures to
think and act in certain ways; regulate behavior from
within; and evaluate yourself by personal standards.
• Low Autonomy: You are concerned about the
expectations and evaluations of others; rely on
judgments of others to make important decisions; and
conform to social pressures to think and act in certain
ways.
Carol Ryff’s Six-factor Model of Psychological Well-being
Environmental Mastery
• High Environmental Mastery: You have a sense of mastery
and competence in managing the environment; control
complex array of external activities; make effective use of
surrounding opportunities; and are able to choose or create
contexts suitable to your personal needs and values.
• Low Environmental Mastery: You have difficulty
managing everyday affairs; feel unable to change or
improve surrounding contexts; are unaware of surrounding
opportunities; and lack a sense of control over the external
world.
Carol Ryff’s Six-factor Model of Psychological Well-being
Personal Growth
• Strong Personal Growth: You have a feeling of
continued development; see yourself as growing and
expanding; are open to new experiences; have the sense
of realizing your potential; see improvement in yourself
and behavior over time; are changing in ways that reflect
more self-knowledge and effectiveness.
• Weak Personal Growth: You have a sense of personal
stagnation; lack the sense of improvement or expansion
over time; feel bored and uninterested with life; and feel
unable to develop new attitudes or behaviors.
Carol Ryff’s Six-factor Model of Psychological Well-being
Positive Relations with Others
• Strong Positive Relations: You have warm, satisfying,
trusting relationships with others; are concerned about the
welfare of others; are capable of strong empathy, affection,
and intimacy; and understand the give and take of human
relationships.
• Weak Relations: You have few close, trusting relationships
with others; find it difficult to be warm, open, and
concerned about others; are isolated and frustrated in
interpersonal relationships; and are not willing to make
compromises to sustain important ties with others.
Carol Ryff’s Six-factor Model of Psychological Well-being
Purpose in Life
• Strong Purpose in Life: You have goals in life and a
sense of directedness; feel there is meaning to your
present and past life; hold beliefs that give life
purpose; and have aims and objectives for living.
• Weak Purpose in Life: You lack a sense of meaning
in life; have few goals or aims, lack a sense of
direction; do not see purpose of your past life; and
have no outlook or beliefs that give life meaning.
Carol Ryff’s Six-factor Model of Psychological Well-being
Self-acceptance
• High Self Acceptance: You possess a positive attitude
toward yourself; acknowledge and accept multiple
aspects of yourself including both good and bad
qualities; and feel positive about your past life.
• Low Self Acceptance: You feel dissatisfied with
yourself; are disappointed with what has occurred in
your past life; are troubled about certain personal
qualities; and wish to be different than what you are.
EXAMPLE: Short Warwick- Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale
(SWEMWBS)
EXAMPLE: ONS Subjective Well-being Questions
EXAMPLE: Psychological Wellbeing Scale (PWB Scale)
There are ways on how we can help ourselves increase our
wellbeing. In addition to nourishing our body and participating in
physical activities we enjoy, there are many other ways we can
improve our mental health or psychological wellbeing.
• Accepting emotions is one way of helping oneself increase
wellbeing, appreciate positive emotions and acknowledge
negative emotions, because even negative emotion also helps.
• We should also live in the present, “Mental health tends to
become challenged when we get sucked into what used to
happen or what people ‘did to me’ rather than taking
responsibility in what I am doing or creating today, right now”.
 • We need to be introspective for us to be aware
of what to improve and what changes we need
in our lives. It is also important to determine
and live our personal values, to identify our
strengths and use them.
• Practicing gratitude, “You’ll find you shift your
overall outlook on life when you come from a
perspective of gratitude,”
There are many other ways on how we can increase
our wellbeing, it is important that we assess
ourselves in order to know which aspect needs
improvement.