Culture and Society
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Wellbeing: what does it mean? It’s a word we hear a lot, one of those fuzzy concepts we understand but would struggle to define. Well, struggle no more! Scientists from across 11 different disciplines have come together to draft the first-ever international consensus definition of what it means to be well, and there were six factors that really stood out.
The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.In the study, led as a partnership between Adelaide University in Australia and Be Well Co, which offers services to promote wellbeing and resilience in the workplace, 122 academics from around the world were surveyed on what factors they felt were essential to positive mental health. There were psychiatrists and psychologists, but also those with expertise in fields as diverse as economics, philosophy, and theology.
Nineteen factors were agreed upon by at least 75 percent of the group, but there were six that achieved near-unanimous support of at least 90 percent of the respondents.
These are the things that experts agree are required for good mental health:
- Feeling there is meaning and purpose to one’s life
- Life satisfaction
- Self-acceptance
- Close connections with other people
- Having autonomy over one’s choices and self-expression
- Often feeling happy, positive, and cheerful
“For too long, mental wellbeing has been defined in different ways across research, healthcare and government, making it almost impossible to compare evidence or design effective policy,” said first author Dr Matthew Iasiello in a statement.
“Imagine if there were 150 different ways of measuring blood pressure – the results would be meaningless. That’s why it’s important to agree on what positive mental health is, and what it isn’t.”
Some other factors that we might typically associate with good mental health, such as being financially comfortable or enjoying good physical health, were deemed as drivers of wellbeing rather than determinants of it. Distinguishing between things that drive good mental health and things that are outcomes of it was a persistent challenge that the researchers noted, saying it is “a tension also reflected academic discourse.”
The study also clarified that it is possible to experience periods of mental wellbeing even whilst living with a mental illness. “Positive mental health isn’t about feeling good all the time,” said Iasiello. “It’s about having a combination of emotional wellbeing, psychological functioning, and social connection that helps you live a meaningful, manageable life, even when things might be hard.”
“In this way, positive mental health is less about feeling good all the time, and more about having the right combination of factors to cope, live well, and experience life as meaningful. When people can better recognise which parts of their wellbeing are strong, and which might need support it gives them a clearer sense of where to focus their efforts.”
The authors write in their paper that they “anticipate healthy discourse on the various dimensions included in this preliminary taxonomy,” suggesting that this study should not be taken as a one-and-done, but rather a basis for further discussion, as well as a guidepost for organizations seeking to promote wellbeing.
“Whether it’s government departments creating spaces for connection, or teachers building optimism in kids at school, many of us are already contributing to wellbeing without realising it. We hope that this taxonomy can further strengthen the efforts of anyone who is trying to do their part in making people feel their best, in Australia and beyond, is worthwhile,” said co-author Dr Joep van Agteren.
Iasiello commented, “By agreeing that positive mental health isn’t a single feeling, but a combination of how we feel, how we function and how we connect with others, the study brings much‑needed clarity to the field.”
The study is published in Nature Mental Health.
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