International Journal of Wellbeing (IJW)
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Towards a historical comparison framework
Get PDFThe recently proposed Global Comparison Framework (Lomas, 2023) lays out a rich array of dimensions of flourishing and their determinants on which the nations of the world might be compared. Despite its capaciousness and comprehensiveness, however, the GCF’s reliance on a contemporary snapshot of global diversity still presents scholars engaged in cross-cultural studies of flourishing with a relatively narrow field of inquiry. The GCF’s focus on contemporary indicators is understandable, but the roots of many of the differences among nations today – whether considered in terms of psychological profile, economic development, political and cultural norms, or, ultimately, overall flourishing – frequently lie in the distant and long buried past. This paper provides notes toward a historical supplement for the GCF – a historical comparison framework (HCF) – by sketching a set of indicators which, while no longer operative or at least salient for most of the world today, were at various points highly significant determinants of cultural, technological, or economic change, with effects which are still evident today in cross-cultural differences in flourishing or its determinants. We group these indicators under three broad headings: geography, migration and conquest, and religion
Development of wellbeing among school learners through positive pedagogy
Get PDFKeeping in view the growing psychological concerns among young children, the educational community is now recognizing the value of positive psychology in helping children learn, capitalize on their strengths, increase resilience, and prepare them for life. Positive education, as an applied area of positive psychology, tries to achieve these goals while providing a joint venture for collaboration among the various stakeholders in school education. The present paper is analytical in nature and focuses on the concept of positive pedagogy and its delineation in the existing literature. It also introduces the idea of integrating two well-known models (the PERMA model of wellbeing and the 5E model of experiential learning) with Brookfield's reflective practice model in order to impart wellbeing-rich content in the classroom. This integration aligns with the fundamentals of positive pedagogy and offers a systematic approach to integrating it into the teaching and learning process. Furthermore, the identification of distinct positive psychological interventions used by various positive education programs throughout the world has shed light on positive pedagogy. By taking into account the current status and associated challenges with the idea of positive pedagogy, several suggestions that may guide future advancements in the field of positive education and, more specifically, in positive pedagogy have been made in the article
Resilience, masculinity, and hedonic-eudaimonic dynamics: An autoethnography of an extended gratitude intervention
Get PDFThis autoethnography explores a 23-day gratitude project, focusing on the experiences, challenges, and outcomes of writing and sending daily gratitude letters. Analysis of audio transcripts recorded before and after each letter reveals several key themes: the dynamic interplay between eudaimonic and hedonic well-being; the significant role of gender and perceptions of masculinity as obstacles to gratitude expression; the value of benefit-triggered gratitude expression; and the development of resilience through communicative acts of gratitude. Despite the considerable benefits observed, the findings recommend prioritizing the quality of gratitude expressions over their frequency in future interventions. This work provides a nuanced understanding of the emotional journey in gratitude practices and its impact on personal growth and resilience
Resisting organisational change? Psychological resilience and perceived organisational support as mediators in promoting psychological well-being and organisational citizenship behaviours
Get PDFThe increasing prevalence of global transformations has led to a surge in organisational changes worldwide. Consequently, the anticipation of employee resistance and its impact on organisational development has become a vital concern in the field of organisational psychology. This study aims to comprehensively explore employee resistance to organisational change within the energy industry, considering several critical factors, including psychological well-being, organisational citizenship behaviour, organisational support, and psychological resilience. A total of 313 employees from an organisation in the energy industry in Malaysia. Participants completed measures on attitude towards organisational change, psychological well-being, organisational citizenship behaviour, perceived organisational support, and psychological resilience. The results from our study showed significant relationships between employee resistance to organisational change, psychological well-being, and organisational citizenship behaviour. The findings also indicated significant mediating effect of perceived organisational support in the relationship between organisational change and psychological well-being. Further, the results also showed that psychological resilience was a significant mediator between organisational change, psychological well-being, and organisational citizenship behaviour. The implications from the study include increase in transparency in organisation, leaders as change agent, and brief coaching for employees to increase organisational resilience
The life and impact of Professor Felicia Huppert. A eulogy, reflections, and a celebration of a life well lived
Get PDFBook Review: Subjective WellBeing in the Indian Context - Concept, Measure and Index
No full text“Subjective Well-Being in the Indian Context - Concept, Measure and Index” by Tithi Bhatnagar is a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted nature of wellbeing within the modern Indian socio-cultural context. The book starts with an overview of the theoretical cornerstones and measurement approaches in studying wellbeing and it ultimately offers a unique index for measuring happiness tailored to the Indian context. This structure helps the book deliver a significant multidisciplinary contribution that is of interest not only to psychology but social sciences more broadly. This review will focus on the book's contribution to specifically social, regional, and cultural economics
The adult consequences on wellbeing of abuse and neglect in childhood
Get PDFUsing four cross-sectional data files for the United States and Europe we show that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a substantial and significant apparent impact on subjective wellbeing in adulthood. These ACEs – which include death of a parent, parental separation or divorce, household financial difficulties, the prolonged absence of a parent, quarreling between parents, parental unemployment, sexual assault, experiencing long-term health problems, being bullied at school, and being beaten or punched as a child – are associated with significantly lower subjective wellbeing in adulthood. This association is apparent across fifty different subjective wellbeing measures. These include sixteen positive affect measures such as happiness, life satisfaction and domain-specific life satisfaction, and twenty-three negative affect measures such as the GHQ6, loneliness, and feeling down, depressed and tired. In addition, we find ACEs affect perceptions of the area one lives in as an adult including perceptions of drugs, violence and vandalism
A qualitative exploration of how extended paternity leave can promote fathers’ psychological wellbeing
Get PDFThe perinatal period is known to be a vulnerable time for parents’ mental health and wellbeing. Research about fathers’ health during this time is in its infancy and has focused predominantly on mental health problems. Much less is known about how fathers experience their own wellbeing or what can help their lives (and consequently the lives of their family) to go well during the significant event of having a baby. Early research suggests that allowing fathers to take a longer period of paternity leave could help to promote their wellbeing. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the experiences of some of the first fathers to take extended paternity leave following the UK’s introduction of its new Shared Parental Leave policy in 2015. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with sixteen fathers from around the UK who were employed in a variety of industries. The sample included both first-time fathers and those extending their family. Template Analysis was initially used to systematically analyse the data. The overarching conclusion was that the wellbeing of these fathers appeared to flourish during a major life event that has a known association with mental health problems for many fathers. To seek an explanation for this, the findings were interpreted using a novel approach based on the theoretical framework of Ryff’s (1989) six aspects of psychological wellbeing. A conceptual model is therefore proposed that suggests extended paternity leave can promote fathers’ psychological wellbeing by allowing them a rare and valuable opportunity for self-reflection, personal growth, development of parental mastery, and to support the wellbeing of their family. This qualitative exploration contributes a deep understanding of the nature of these fathers’ individual experiences of their own psychological wellbeing. The potential of extended paternity leave for promoting the wellbeing of fathers and their families during the critical postnatal period signals that there may be value in researching the relationship between paternal leave and wellbeing further
Is the fulfilment of objective wellbeing reflected in subjective wellbeing? A case study of vulnerable communities in Volta Delta, Ghana
Get PDFThere is growing interest in the measurement and conceptualisation of wellbeing due to its increasing importance within policy outcomes; however, the understanding of how different wellbeing outcomes associate within sustainability research is limited. This paper uses household survey data from the vulnerable Volta Delta, South Ghana, as a case study to illustrate the different philosophical approaches and measures of wellbeing, and the potential impact upon policy interventions. The frequent use of objective wellbeing measures, such as monetary poverty, within development policy is challenged as to whether it sufficiently reflects overall wellbeing. For example, objective monetary measures may not incorporate the intangible components of wellbeing, which can alternatively be captured within individuals’ self-evaluated, subjective wellbeing.
This study first outlines the conceptual and methodological choices required when measuring wellbeing, before drawing on ideas of objective and subjective wellbeing to examine whether these concepts from different disciplines align or oppose one another. Contrasting theories within the literature justify this focus. By testing for associations between objective and subjective wellbeing outcomes, this study highlights how the methodological and conceptual choices made when measuring wellbeing can result in differing conclusions. Despite statistically significant associations being found amongst some wellbeing measures, results which show opposing outcomes highlight how subjective and objective wellbeing are not entirely interchangeable. Our study concludes there is a benefit to incorporating both objective and subjective measures in research and development targets across multiple scales to more-comprehensibly capture, and improve our understanding of, human wellbeing in vulnerable locations
Wellbeing public policy needs more theory
Get PDFAdvocacy for ‘wellbeing public policy’ (WPP) requires suitable evidence. Endorsing the ambition to focus policy on wellbeing outcomes, we nevertheless argue that the current evidence base is deficient due to a lack of theory. For the purposes of our analysis, we identify theory narrowly with conceptual clarity and the modelling of causal mechanisms underlying statistical regularities. The prevailing focus on identifying ‘drivers’ of wellbeing and their effect sizes is not well suited for such theorising. We show that this status quo creates potential for conceptual confusion, incorrect aggregation, poor robustness and external validity of policy evaluations, inept interventions, and raises the prospect of a ‘Lucas critique’ in wellbeing economics. We discuss what sort of theory addresses these pitfalls, and where WPP could proceed fruitfully even in the absence of such theory. Ultimately, we call upon wellbeing experts to invest in developing theory as this would improve the basis for WPP and outcomes for those affected by it. Moreover, such theoretical contributions from the field of WPP could spillover to other disciplines, extending the reach and influence of wellbeing research