Subjective well-being. The science of happiness and a proposal for a national index
Abstract
One area of positive psychology analyzes subjective well-being (SWB), people's cognitive and affective evaluations of their lives. Progress has been made in understanding the components of SWB, the importance of adaptation and goals to feelings of well-being, the temperament underpinnings of SWB, and the cultural influences on well-being. Representative selection of respondents, naturalistic experience sampling measures, and other methodological refinements are now used to study SWB and could be used to produce national indicators of happiness.
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Psychological well-being is not the absence of ill-being.
“Often overlooked is the fact that psychological well-being is not the absence of ill-being (Diener 2000; Keyes 2007).”
From The role of passion in sustainable psychological well-being (2012) · cites this paper as Diener 2000
People in collectivist cultures, as compared to individualistic societies, are more likely to remain in marriages and jobs that they consider unhappy.
“People in collectivist cultures, as compared to individualistic societies, are more likely to remain in marriages and jobs that they consider unhappy”
From Why do people use Facebook? (2012) · cites this paper as Diener, 2000
The development of a core outcome set (COS) would address the situation of diversity of outcomes and methodologies hampering comparison and knowledge translation.
“The development of a core outcome set (COS) would address this situation 8,42 .”
Heterogeneity of outcome assessment in chronic pain therapy is still present.
“Nevertheless heterogeneity of outcome assessment is still present 8 .”
Existing diversity of outcomes and methodologies for outcome assessment hampers comparison of clinical trials and knowledge translation.
“Existing diversity of outcomes 8 , and methodologies for outcome assessment 22 , hampers comparison of clinical trials (including outcome-reporting bias 42 ), and knowledge translation 8 .”
The VAPAIN recommendation comprises three frequently reported domains (pain intensity, pain frequency, and health-related quality of life) and five outcomes less commonly used.
“The VAPAIN recommendation comprises three frequently reported ( pain intensity , pain frequency and health related quality of life ) 8 , and five outcomes less commonly used.”
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- Authors
- Diener, E.
- Affiliations
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- Corresponding author
- Diener, Ed
- ORCID
- Diener, Ed
- Venue
- American Psychologist
- Published
- 2000
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 34-43
- ISSN
- 0003-066X (ISSN-L)
- 1935-990X
- OpenAlex
- W2070808447
- Cited by
- 7,121
- References
- 72
- Citations by year
- 2026: 227 · 2025: 394 · 2024: 445 · 2023: 585 · 2022: 511 · 2021: 537 · 2020: 456 · 2019: 420 · 2018: 333 · 2017: 351 · 2016: 354 · 2015: 387 · 2014: 391 · 2013: 297 · 2012: 265
- FWCI
- 75.73
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Psychologist (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Flow Experience in Various Fields
- Keywords
- subjective well-being, happiness, positive psychology, adaptation, goals, temperament, ecological momentary assessment, representative sampling
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Cultural Characteristics, Happiness, Humans, Quality of Life, Sampling Studies, Temperament
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