Development of an Development of an integrated well-being integrated well-being

scalescale

Dr Ilona BoniwellDr Ilona BoniwellDr Evgeny OsinDr Evgeny OsinDr Nash PopovicDr Nash Popovic

Dr Mark McDermottDr Mark McDermott

University of East London University of East London

SWB = SWL + high PA + low NASWB = SWL + high PA + low NA

Life Satisfaction – cognitive component, Life Satisfaction – cognitive component, rating the way one’s life turned out to be. rating the way one’s life turned out to be. Refers to discrepancy between the Refers to discrepancy between the present situation and what is thought to present situation and what is thought to be the ideal or deserved standardbe the ideal or deserved standard

Affect – emotional side of well-being. Affect – emotional side of well-being. Refers to both moods and emotions Refers to both moods and emotions associated with experiencing of associated with experiencing of momentary eventsmomentary events

Subjective Well-Being Subjective Well-Being (SWB)(SWB)

Is there more to happiness Is there more to happiness than just feeling good?than just feeling good?

Ryff & Keyes (1995):Ryff & Keyes (1995): Failure to answer the question of what does it actually mean Failure to answer the question of what does it actually mean

to be well psychologically?to be well psychologically? SWL and affect measures are data driven & not based on any SWL and affect measures are data driven & not based on any

conceptual frameworkconceptual framework Meaning and purpose are ignored (also McGregor and Little, Meaning and purpose are ignored (also McGregor and Little,

1998; King & Napa, 1998)1998; King & Napa, 1998) Ryan and Deci (2001):Ryan and Deci (2001):

Questionable validity of SWB as an operational definition of Questionable validity of SWB as an operational definition of well-being (rather than hedonism)well-being (rather than hedonism)

Types of activities and goals theorized to promote well-being Types of activities and goals theorized to promote well-being may be misleading. may be misleading.

Vitterso (2003):Vitterso (2003): Ignorance of the complexity of philosophical conceptions of Ignorance of the complexity of philosophical conceptions of

happiness happiness Failure to explain the dimension of personal growthFailure to explain the dimension of personal growth

Back to basics Back to basics

Eudaimonia is the highest end worth pursuing by Eudaimonia is the highest end worth pursuing by doing virtuous actionsdoing virtuous actions

Acting in accordance with one’s daimonActing in accordance with one’s daimon Acting in accordance with a universal law of Acting in accordance with a universal law of

respecting humanity that is embodied in oneself respecting humanity that is embodied in oneself as well as in the other person as well as in the other person

Theoretical frameworks falling under Theoretical frameworks falling under the eudaimonic umbrellathe eudaimonic umbrella

Ryff (1989), Ryff & Keyes (1995):Ryff (1989), Ryff & Keyes (1995): Self-acceptance , personal growth, purpose in life, positive Self-acceptance , personal growth, purpose in life, positive

relations with others, environmental mastery and autonomy. relations with others, environmental mastery and autonomy. Csikszentmihalyi (1975; 1992; 2000) Csikszentmihalyi (1975; 1992; 2000)

Flow and autotelic personalityFlow and autotelic personality Seligman (2002)Seligman (2002)

Pleasant life, good life, meaningful lifePleasant life, good life, meaningful life McGregor and Little (1998); King & Napa (1998); Compton McGregor and Little (1998); King & Napa (1998); Compton

et al (1996):et al (1996): Happiness (SWL, PA, NA)Happiness (SWL, PA, NA) Meaning or growthMeaning or growth

Ryan and Deci (2000); Ryan and Deci (2000); Ryan, Deci & Huta (2008)Ryan, Deci & Huta (2008):: SDT: Three inherent psychological needs (competence, SDT: Three inherent psychological needs (competence,

autonomy and relatedness). When satisfied, enhance motivation autonomy and relatedness). When satisfied, enhance motivation & well-being& well-being

Waterman (1993); Waterman (1993); Waterman, Schwartz & Conti (2008): Waterman, Schwartz & Conti (2008): Personal expressiveness in intrinsically motivated activitiesPersonal expressiveness in intrinsically motivated activities

Vitterso (2009)Vitterso (2009) Involvement in challenging activitiesInvolvement in challenging activities

A new conception of EWBA new conception of EWB

EmotionalEmotional CognitiveCognitive Volitional Volitional (agency)(agency)

Effortful living in Effortful living in accordance accordance with valueswith values

(1) Non-(1) Non-attachmentattachment

(2) Meaning(2) Meaning (3) Self-(3) Self-regulationregulation

Growth, Growth, developmentdevelopment

(4) Engagement, (4) Engagement, vitalityvitality

(5) Need for (5) Need for cognition and cognition and understandingunderstanding

(6) Autonomy(6) Autonomy

Self-Self-transcendencetranscendence

(7) Deep (7) Deep emotional emotional

experiencesexperiences

(8) Larger (8) Larger perspectiveperspective

(9) Contribution(9) Contribution

Effortful living in accordance Effortful living in accordance with one’s valueswith one’s values

Non-Attachment:Non-Attachment: an experience of self-sufficiency an experience of self-sufficiency and relative independence from the objects of the and relative independence from the objects of the outside world that are used to satisfy needs outside world that are used to satisfy needs (Popovic, 2005)(Popovic, 2005)

MeaningMeaning is a cognitive construct, a general is a cognitive construct, a general framework of values and goals that a person framework of values and goals that a person considers valuable, or a general direction one is considers valuable, or a general direction one is following. (Ryff & Keyes, 1995; Seligman, 2002). following. (Ryff & Keyes, 1995; Seligman, 2002).

Self-regulationSelf-regulation is a capacity to delay gratification is a capacity to delay gratification and postpone immediate pleasure in favour of and postpone immediate pleasure in favour of pursuing valuable goals. This capacity is necessary pursuing valuable goals. This capacity is necessary for effortful action and pursuit of long-term goals for effortful action and pursuit of long-term goals (Tangney, Baumeister & Boone, 2004). (Tangney, Baumeister & Boone, 2004).

Growth, developmentGrowth, development

Engagement/vitalityEngagement/vitality is a general emotional experience of is a general emotional experience of living one’s life fully, being interested and intensely living one’s life fully, being interested and intensely involved in one’s everyday activities involved in one’s everyday activities (Scheier, et al, 2006; (Scheier, et al, 2006; Peterson, Park, Seligman, 2005; Ryan & Frederick, 1997) Peterson, Park, Seligman, 2005; Ryan & Frederick, 1997)

Need for cognitionNeed for cognition encompasses a number of cognitive encompasses a number of cognitive characteristics necessary for vigorous cognitive characteristics necessary for vigorous cognitive functioning and development, such as openness to functioning and development, such as openness to experience, tolerance towards ambiguous situations, experience, tolerance towards ambiguous situations, acceptance of difficult problems, desire for a better acceptance of difficult problems, desire for a better knowledge of the world and of one’s self knowledge of the world and of one’s self (Petty & (Petty & Cacioppo, 1982) Cacioppo, 1982)

AutonomyAutonomy is an individual capacity to attribute the is an individual capacity to attribute the freedom of making choices to oneself and make one’s freedom of making choices to oneself and make one’s own choices of action rather than being determined by own choices of action rather than being determined by situational factors and social pressure situational factors and social pressure (Sheldon, 1995; (Sheldon, 1995; Ryan, Huta & Deci, 2008) Ryan, Huta & Deci, 2008)

Self-transcendenceSelf-transcendence Deep emotional experiencesDeep emotional experiences are similar to peak are similar to peak

experiences proposed by Maslow, or mystical experiences proposed by Maslow, or mystical experiences. (experiences. (Burton & King, 2001; Francis & Burton & King, 2001; Francis & Louden, 2000; Wong, 2006)Louden, 2000; Wong, 2006)

PerspectivePerspective is an individual’s capability of is an individual’s capability of locating their actions and experiences within a locating their actions and experiences within a larger perspective, including temporal, ‘spatial’, larger perspective, including temporal, ‘spatial’, social and personal perspective social and personal perspective (Debats, 1998)(Debats, 1998)

ContributionContribution is an activity that implements is an activity that implements values. When a person contributes to something values. When a person contributes to something larger than oneself: the well-being of other larger than oneself: the well-being of other people, a society, the environment, or the world people, a society, the environment, or the world in general, it has a quality of self-transcendence.in general, it has a quality of self-transcendence.

MethodMethod

Original item pool - 329Original item pool - 329 Expert rated by 20 experts, item Expert rated by 20 experts, item

pool reduced to 158 itemspool reduced to 158 items Two samples: UEL student and Two samples: UEL student and

Internet convenience samplesInternet convenience samples N=496N=496 Principal Component Analysis with Principal Component Analysis with

Varimax Rotation revealed 9 factors Varimax Rotation revealed 9 factors explaining 38% of varianceexplaining 38% of variance

Resulting scales 1Resulting scales 1

Pleasure (9; .76)Pleasure (9; .76) Happiness is the ultimate Happiness is the ultimate

goal of human lifegoal of human life One should enjoy the One should enjoy the

present day to the fullest, present day to the fullest, instead of putting pleasures instead of putting pleasures asideaside

Non-attachment Non-attachment (16; .79)(16; .79)

I find it hard to let go of I find it hard to let go of thingsthings

A life without little daily A life without little daily luxuries seems to me luxuries seems to me barren and emptybarren and empty

Self-regulation (9; .78)Self-regulation (9; .78) I can easily postpone I can easily postpone

immediate pleasures in immediate pleasures in favour of pursuing favour of pursuing important goalsimportant goals

I am able to put pleasure I am able to put pleasure activities aside for the activities aside for the sake of completing my sake of completing my workwork

Resulting scales 2Resulting scales 2

Growth (13; .76)Growth (13; .76) I am not satisfied unless I am not satisfied unless

I am doing something I am doing something that challenges me and that challenges me and develops my abilitiesdevelops my abilities

It is important to have It is important to have new experiences that new experiences that may change the way you may change the way you think about yourself and think about yourself and the world.the world.

I would prefer an I would prefer an effortless life to a effortless life to a challenging one challenging one

Resulting scales 3Resulting scales 3Engagement (22; .94)Engagement (22; .94) What I do every day is What I do every day is

really fascinating to mereally fascinating to me I feel intensely involved I feel intensely involved

in my everyday activitiesin my everyday activities I feel that I live life to I feel that I live life to

the full the full

Alienation (17; .85)Alienation (17; .85) I prefer to just let things I prefer to just let things

happen rather than happen rather than understand why they understand why they turned out that wayturned out that way

Changing the world is Changing the world is an impossible task, and an impossible task, and trying it is pointlesstrying it is pointless

Resulting scales 4Resulting scales 4Contribution (14; .79)Contribution (14; .79) I feel responsibility for doing what I feel responsibility for doing what

I can to contribute to the worldI can to contribute to the world One cannot be truly happy if one's One cannot be truly happy if one's

life does not make other people life does not make other people happierhappier

Deep emotional experiences Deep emotional experiences (13; .88)(13; .88)

I can remember moments of such I can remember moments of such beauty that I lost a sense of time, beauty that I lost a sense of time, place and myselfplace and myself..

There are brief and intense There are brief and intense moments when I suddenly see moments when I suddenly see what life is really all aboutwhat life is really all about..

Meaningful perspective (16; .92)Meaningful perspective (16; .92) I feel that I am in this world for a I feel that I am in this world for a

purpose that I am trying to fulfilpurpose that I am trying to fulfil I see my past, my present and my I see my past, my present and my

future as parts of a meaningful future as parts of a meaningful wholewhole

Demographic DifferencesDemographic Differences

Men are higher in Non-Attachment Men are higher in Non-Attachment (p<.01), but lower in Deep (p<.01), but lower in Deep Emotional Experiences (p<.05)Emotional Experiences (p<.05)

Age differences found in Deep Age differences found in Deep Experiences, Growth, Pleasure, Non-Experiences, Growth, Pleasure, Non-Attachment, Engagement, Attachment, Engagement, Alienation.Alienation.

Education was associated with 8 out Education was associated with 8 out of 9 scales.of 9 scales.

Age differencesAge differences

P leasure N on-A ttach.18-24 25-29 30-39 40-49 50+

AG E_G R P

-0.8

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Eudaimonia and workEudaimonia and work

Number of hours worked is associated Number of hours worked is associated with Engagement (.26***), with Engagement (.26***), Contribution (.18**), Meaning (.15*), Contribution (.18**), Meaning (.15*), Pleasure (-.19**), Alienation (-.14). Pleasure (-.19**), Alienation (-.14).

Volunteers show higher Engagement, Volunteers show higher Engagement, Meaning, Contribution, and lower Meaning, Contribution, and lower Alienation (p<.05).Alienation (p<.05).

The role of occupation in eudaimonia The role of occupation in eudaimonia to be analyzedto be analyzed

Eudaimonia and educationEudaimonia and education

Vertica l bars denote 0 .95 confidence interva ls

P leasure N on-attachm ent A lienation Engagem entSecondary D egree Postgraduate PhD

Education

-1.2

-1.0

-0.8

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Correlations with SWB Correlations with SWB variablesvariables

IWB Scales SWLS SHS PANAS

PA NA

Deep Experiences .18* .27*** .36*** -.10

Pleasure .09 .21** .04 -.09

Meaning .37*** .49*** .39*** -.22*

Non-attachment .38*** .41*** .34*** -.38***

Self-regulation .22** .25** .25** -.26**

Growth .26*** .36*** .31*** -.19*

Alienation -.26*** -.33*** -.34*** .20*

Contribution .15* .34*** .32*** -.09

Engagement .56*** .67*** .56*** -.37***

Correlations with other WB Correlations with other WB variablesvariables

IWB Scales Approaches to Happiness Self-act. Socialdesi

r.Engag. Meaning Pleasure

Deep Experiences .30* .70*** .12 .38* .26

Pleasure .10 .00 .71*** .11 .04

Meaning .52*** .80*** .09 .48** .33*

Non-attachment .24 .30* -.28 .74*** .27

Self-regulation .02 .26 -.32* .24 .17

Growth .53*** .47** .02 .34* .33*

Alienation -.35* -.58*** -.04 -.55*** -.29

Contribution .32* .68*** .03 .41** .32*

Engagement .59*** .51*** .06 .66*** .23

.77

.83.70

.67

-.76.84

.51

.52 .00

Eudaimonicwell-being

(45% variance)

Deep emotionalexperiences

Self-regulation

Non-attachment

Pleasure

Engagement

Contribution

Growth

Meaning,perspective

Alienation

Lets jump to conclusionLets jump to conclusion

Eudaimonia is more than Eudaimonia is more than engagement + meaningengagement + meaning

It requires effort and non-It requires effort and non-attachment to one’s basic attachment to one’s basic needsneeds

An integral part of An integral part of eudaimonia is an active eudaimonia is an active realisation of meaning – realisation of meaning – contributioncontribution

We began to map out the We began to map out the affective/phenomenological affective/phenomenological expressions of eudaimoniaexpressions of eudaimonia