What is Well-being? An Introduction

Well-being can be considered as a construct based on several elements and dimensions, as well as applications. Common definitions of well-being portray it to consist of elements that bring about states of happiness, satisfaction, decreased distress, as well as good health and functioning. This includes feeling content, having a sense of meaning and purpose in life and over personal life experiences, as well as having positive, healthy relationships and experiences with others.

Subjective well-being refers to an individual's personal acknowledgement of the level of happiness (and positive emotions/feelings) and life satisfaction in their life, including overall perceptions as well as individual perceptions relating to specific life domains or areas.

When we speak of well-being and happiness, two main perspectives are used. At first, the hedonic viewpoint focuses on well-being as seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. On the other hand, the eudaimonic approach focuses on well-being as self-realization and finding meaning, and so views a person's functioning as the main focus. Overall, in order to flourish and thrive in life, both perspectives of happiness/well-being (hedonia and eudaimonia) are important. Thus, well-being is a vast concept that covers the elements of optimal health and functioning.