Subjective well-being. The science of happiness and a proposal for a national index

Am Psychol. 2000 Jan;55(1):34-43.

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.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison
  • Cultural Characteristics
  • Happiness*
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life*
  • Sampling Studies
  • Temperament