Source: Busseri & Sadava, 2011, p. 292
They are considered distinct but interrelated because individuals tend to make judgments of satisfaction (e.g., “My life is fantastic”) using their emotional experiences (e.g., “I’m feeling great right now”; Tov & Diener, 2013).
Together, the three components make up the tripartite model of SWB (Busseri & Sadava, 2011). The two affect components are typically assessed independently of the life satisfaction component, using different scales.
Structure of SWB
Busseri and Sadava’s (2011) article covers several potential ways the three SWB components may be linked. The diagram above shows only one of them – a ‘separate components’ framework that assumes no relationships between PA, NA, and LS.
There are, however, other frameworks that have been suggested, in which the components make up:
A hierarchical construct in which a higher order factor SWB correlates positively with PA and LS, and negatively with NA.
A causal system model where, among other things, LS is influenced by PA and NA.
A composite model where all three components combine to contribute to SWB together.
A configuration framework, which views SWB as an integrated system of LS, PA, and NA, all of which are differently configured within distinct individuals (Shmotkin, 2005).
If you find this interesting and would like to learn more, I would highly recommend Busseri and Sadava’s (2011) article.
Why Is SWB Important?
There are many reasons why subjective wellbeing matters to individuals and society as a whole.
Quality of life
Our affective experiences and overall emotional wellbeing are central to our quality of life as individuals (Skevington & Böhnke, 2018).
People who feel satisfied with their lives and frequently experience good feelings such as joy, contentment, and hope are more inclined to be seen as enjoying a high quality of life.
Measures of SWB can be used to inform policy decisions, academic curricula, and social initiatives that contribute to a better quality of life for citizens and communities across the world (OECD Better Life, 2013).
Human progress
Gross domestic product (GDP) alone is not an adequate measure of life quality at the national level, although research suggests that it may have some impact on SWB through various mechanisms (Diener, Tay, & Oishi, 2013). It is generally agreed that SWB offers a more comprehensive measure of a nation’s wellbeing by extending the concept beyond merely material concerns and considering individual perspectives rather than outsider judgments.
For a great discussion on SWB and GDP as indicators of human progress, I recommend this article by Richard Easterlin (2019).
An interesting question, and view review it with the following studies.
SWB and mental health
Mental health is critical to SWB and vice versa. Very crudely, mental health can be considered the absence of negative psychological symptoms and the presence of positive ones (Abdel-Khalek & Lester, 2013).
What’s important to note here is that the absence of illness and disease is not considered enough for people to have good mental health, and it’s where SWB comes into the definition.
By recognizing the role of feelings such as joy, life satisfaction, fulfillment, purpose, and contentment in life, we have a more holistic mental health concept. In turn, we can better understand how to facilitate its development in individuals and populations (Keyes, 2006).
Are happiness and subjective wellbeing the same?
Happiness is often equated with SWB in the literature, media, and more. In recent times, however, the latter is more widely thought of as the main affective component of the former (Machado, de Oliveira, Peregrino, & Cantilino, 2019).
This means that SWB encompasses more than just happiness. By incorporating life satisfaction into SWB measures, we include consideration of past experiences and future expectations.
The Link Between SWB and Positive Psychology
As a discipline, positive psychology is focused on how virtues, strengths, and skills can help individuals and communities thrive and flourish. It involves topics, such as meaning, mindset, happiness, gratitude, and compassion, that can play a role in wellbeing and a meaningful, good life.
SWB falls under one of the three basic orientations that facilitate wellbeing (Seligman & Royzman, 2003):
- The pleasant life – a hedonic orientation concerned with positive affective experiences
- The meaningful life – a eudaimonic orientation that focuses on working toward a higher purpose
- The engaged life – engagement with flow-eliciting activities (a psychological wellbeing orientation)
Typically considered a hedonic form of happiness, SWB is central to the first orientation: a life of pleasure.
A glimpse at the research
Positive psychology studies on SWB cover a growing range of topics (Diener, Oishi, & Tay, 2018):
SWB measures and methods. Currently, the vast bulk of SWB assessments are based on self-report scales and measures. While these measures have been relatively reliable, academics have raised concerns about methodological issues such as validity, so we can likely expect to see more research in this area soon.
Factors underpinning SWB. The role of genetics, income, personality, community, societal factors, and more have long been a key area of interest for SWB and positive psychology researchers. One example is Deaton’s (2008) Gallup World Poll study of income, wellbeing, and health, which linked SWB to national income.
Theoretical SWB processes. Studies of this type explore and examine the mechanisms underpinning subjective wellbeing, for example, biological theories of SWB, goal satisfaction, and mental-state theories. Headey’s (2010) study on genetics and SWB, for instance, found that many people who experience serious adverse events don’t always go back to their original baseline levels of subjective wellbeing.
SWB outcomes. This area of research concerns how subjective wellbeing impacts us. Some exciting new directions being explored are its impact on health and whether too much SWB can be detrimental to motivation (De Neve, Diener, Tay, & Xuereb, 2013).
SWB between countries. Research here looks at cross-national differences in average SWB, as well as issues like whether SWB predictors vary cross-culturally (Diener & Tov, 2012).
What interests you?
Life Satisfaction and SWB
So, what is life satisfaction exactly? According to Dutch happiness expert Veenhoven (2015, p. 6), it refers to “the degree to which a person evaluates the overall quality of his or her present life-as-a-whole positively.”
Life satisfaction: A concept
Veenhoven (2012) presents a fourfold matrix to unpack the subjective life satisfaction concept further.
His framework involves two axes: from short-lived to enduring satisfaction, and from overall satisfaction to satisfaction with life domains.
|
Passing |
Enduring |
Part of life |
1. Pleasure |
3. Domain satisfaction |
Life as a whole |
2. Top experience |
4. Happiness |
Source: Adapted from Veenhoven (2012, p. 21)
Instant satisfaction/pleasure is a passing, often sensory experience of life aspects. Examples include listening to a great piece of music or eating a delicious slice of cake.
Domain satisfaction is enduring, continued appreciation of a life domain – being satisfied with your academic career, for instance, or your marriage.
Top experience describes passing satisfaction with your life overall; short-lived but intense, Veenhoven (2012, p. 4) describes one example as “a moment of bliss.”
Finally, core meaning/happiness refers to enduring, overall satisfaction with life. Veenhoven considers this ‘durable’ and argues that this is the real meaning of ‘life satisfaction.’
Life satisfaction with SWB
We can now understand the subjective wellbeing concept in a little more detail.
- Life satisfaction, as described above, is often used to refer to the cognitive component of happiness. It is enduring and concerns life as a whole, Veenhoven argues.
- In contrast, the positive affect and negative affect elements of SWB can sometimes be related to domain satisfaction and sometimes more informally to all four of the quadrants above.
In short, life satisfaction is integral to subjective wellbeing (Veenhoven, 2012).
What our readers think
How do i reference this article in a paper that i am writing?
Hi there,
Thanks for your question. You can reference this article like this:
Moore, C. (2019). Subjective Wellbeing in Positive Psychology (Incl. PDF). PositivePsychology.com. Retrieved from https://positivepsychology.com/subjective-well-being/
I hope this helps!
-Caroline | Community Manager
Topic is really useful for the references. Thanks a lot for your publication on this topic.