Subjective Well-Being: A General Overview
Abstract
We provide a comprehensive review of the field of subjective well-being in terms of its societal and individual benefits, demographic correlates, theories of origin, and relationship to culture. Interventions to increase well-being are also presented as well as the argument that national accounts of well-being for public policy should be instituted and utilized, alongside economic and social indicators, to both reveal and improve the quality of life within nations.
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Interventions can effectively raise the various domains of well-being, which are malleable.
“although well-being levels are generally stable in the absence of interventions, there is increasing evidence that the different domains of well-being are malleable and can be effectively increased as a result of interventions (Diener & Ryan, 2009; Diener, Suh, Lucas & Smith, 1999; Ryff, 2014).”
From Trajectories of change in well-being during cognitive behavioral therapies for anxiety disorders: Quantifying the impact and covariation with improvements in anxiety (2020) · cites this paper as Diener & Ryan, 2009
Without intervention, well-being tends to remain stable.
“although well-being levels are generally stable in the absence of interventions, there is increasing evidence that the different domains of well-being are malleable and can be effectively increased as a result of interventions (Diener & Ryan, 2009; Diener, Suh, Lucas & Smith, 1999; Ryff, 2014).”
From Trajectories of change in well-being during cognitive behavioral therapies for anxiety disorders: Quantifying the impact and covariation with improvements in anxiety (2020) · cites this paper as Diener & Ryan, 2009
Cites
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Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. L. (1999) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.125.2.276 · Cited by 12,910 · see citing works
Self-citationThe benefits of frequent positive affect: Does happiness lead to success?
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Unemployment Alters the Set Point for Life Satisfaction
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Self-citationInfluences and Consequences of Well-being Among Australian Young People: 1980–1995
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The Relationship Between Self‐Compassion and Well‐Being: A Meta‐Analysis
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Leisure and Subjective Well-Being: A Model of Psychological Mechanisms as Mediating Factors
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Self-citationConley, C. S., Kirsch, A. C., Dickson, D. A., & Bryant, F. B. (2014) · Emerging Adulthood · doi:10.1177/2167696814521808 · Cited by 315 · see citing works
Kraiss, J. T., ten Klooster, P. M., Moskowitz, J. T., & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2020) · Comprehensive Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2020.152189 · Cited by 252 · see citing works
“The classification into hedonic and eudaimonic well-being was based on the distinction outlined in the introduction [34,37,39].”
BackgroundOn the reciprocal association between loneliness and subjective well-being
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Pandemic as a Challenge to Subjective Well-Being: Anxiety and Coping
Rasskazova, E. I., Leontiev, D. A., & Lebedeva, A. A. (2020) · Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy · doi:10.17759/cpp.2020280205 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Geographical differences in subjective well-being predict extraordinary altruism
Brethel-Haurwitz, K. M., & Marsh, A. A. (2014) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/0956797613516148 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
The Cantril Ladder elicits thoughts about power and wealth
Nilsson, A. H., Eichstaedt, J. C., Lomas, T., Schwartz, A., & Kjell, O. (2024) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-024-52939-y · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Steinberger, P., & Kim, H. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1157489 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
“Of our interest, subjective well-being (SWB), defined as the level of well-being individuals experience in relation to their subjective evaluations of their lives (Diener and Ryan, 2009), can be highly affected by SNS activities because positive or negative life events involve fluctuating feelings and judgements about…”
BackgroundMobile social media use and life satisfaction among adolescents: a moderated mediation model
Meng, S., Kong, F., Dong, W., Zhang, Y., Yu, T., & Jin, X. (2023) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1117745 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Gallagher, M. W., Phillips, C. A., D'Souza, J., Richardson, A., Long, L. J., Boswell, J. F., Farchione, T. J., & Barlow, D. H. (2020) · Psychotherapy · doi:10.1037/pst0000283 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
“…although well-being levels are generally stable in the absence of interventions, there is increasing evidence that the different domains of well-being are malleable and can be effectively increased as a result of interventions (Diener & Ryan, 2009; Diener, Suh, Lucas & Smith, 1999; Ryff, 2014).”
Background
- Authors
- Diener, E., & Ryan, K.
- Affiliations
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- Corresponding author
- Diener, Ed
- ORCID
- Diener, Ed
- Venue
- South African Journal of Psychology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2009-12
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 391-406
- ISSN
- 0081-2463 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2109220742
- Cited by
- 1,381
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 80 · 2025: 120 · 2024: 158 · 2023: 158 · 2022: 144 · 2021: 143 · 2020: 147 · 2019: 86 · 2018: 64 · 2017: 57 · 2016: 44 · 2015: 47 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 33 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 24.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- South African Journal of Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Quality of Life Measurement
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Keywords
- subjective well-being, quality of life, demographic correlates, well-being theory, well-being interventions, public policy, economic indicators, social indicators
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