Wellbeing

Wellbeing is not just the absence of disease or illness. It’s a complex combination of a person’s physical, mental, emotional and social health factors. Wellbeing is strongly linked to happiness and life satisfaction.

In short, wellbeing could be described as how you feel about yourself and your life. Every aspect of your life influences your state of wellbeing. Researchers investigating happiness have found the following factors enhance a person’s wellbeing: living in a fair and democratic society.

The factors that influence wellbeing are interrelated

For example, a job provides not just money but purpose, goals, friendships and a sense of belonging. Some factors also make up for the lack of others.

For example, a good marriage can compensate for a lack of friendships, while religious beliefs may help a person come to terms with physical illness.

Money is linked to wellbeing because having enough money improves living conditions and increases social status.

However, happiness may increase with income but only to a point. Many people believe that wealth is a fast track to happiness.

But it’s not true. Various international studies have shown that it’s the quality of our personal relationships, not the size of our bank balance, which has the greatest effect on our state of wellbeing.

Believing that money is the key to happiness can also harm a person’s wellbeing

For example, a person who chooses to work a lot of overtime misses out on time with family, friends and leisure activities. The added stress of long working hours may also reduce a person’s life satisfaction. Research shows that people who chase ’extrinsic’ goals like money and fame are more anxious, depressed and dissatisfied than people who value ‘intrinsic’ goals like close relationships with loved ones.

Wellbeing is important, but seems a little hard to come by. One American study into mental health found that, while one in four respondents was depressed, only one in five was happy – the rest fell somewhere between, neither happy nor depressed. An American consumer study into wellbeing showed that: 58% wish they could spend more time on improving their health and wellbeing.

79% of parents with children aged less than 18 years of age wish they could spend more time on improving their health and wellbeing. 83% are prepared to pay more money for products or services that enhance their feelings of wellbeing. Measuring wellbeing in a population is difficult because the interpretation of wellbeing is so subjective – how you feel about your life largely depends on the way you see it.

Like the saying goes, one person’s problem is another person’s challenge. American researchers try to measure wellbeing to keep tabs on living conditions. A typical approach to measuring wellbeing is to count the number of individuals affected by a particular factor.

For example, it is helpful to keep track of how many people: Have cancer. Are single, married or divorced.

Exercise on a regular basis

Are on unemployment benefits

Are victims of crime

Are unable to read or write

Keeping track of a population’s wellbeing helps governments to decide on particular policies.

For example, knowing the average weekly income of a population helps to set the ‘poverty line’, which may then influence decisions on social welfare reform. Survey results tend to differ depending on what was measured.

For example, an American survey of young people found that eight in every 10 reported feeling satisfied with their lives, including how they felt about their work, studies, income and relationships.

However, this positive picture is contradicted by another survey, which found that about half of all young Americans are grappling with a difficult problem such as depression or alcohol abuse.

Wellbeing is an unclear concept that is hard to pin down with graphs, charts and statistics.

Develop and maintain strong relationships with family and friends.

Make regular time available for social contact

Try to find work that you find enjoyable and rewarding, rather than just working for the best pay. Eat wholesome, nutritious foods.

Do regular physical activity

Become involved in activities that interest you

Join local organisations or clubs that appeal to you.

Set yourself achievable goals and work towards them

Try to be optimistic and enjoy each day

Your doctor

Family and friends

About wellbeing Factors that influence wellbeing happy intimate relationship with a partner network of close friends enjoyable and fulfilling career enough money regular exercise nutritional diet enough sleep spiritual or religious beliefs fun hobbies and leisure pursuits healthy self-esteem optimistic outlook realistic and achievable goals sense of purpose and meaning a sense of belonging the ability to adapt to change Factors are interrelated Wealth is not the key Wellbeing can be elusive Measuring national wellbeing Smoke or drink Results depend on what is measured How to achieve wellbeing Where to get help Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Help Line 1800 551 800.

Key Points

• Money is linked to wellbeing because having enough money improves living conditions and increases social status
• Believing that money is the key to happiness can also harm a person’s wellbeing
• Wellbeing is important, but seems a little hard to come by
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with family and friends