The academic study of well-being has developed rapidly in recent years. Although there is no universally agreed definition for well-being, there are a number of evidence-based and widely accepted models that we can turn to for support in nurturing well-being in our own lives and of those around us.
Societal Well-being
The study of well-being is increasingly informing policymaking and enabling collective measures of well-being. For instance, some countries are now exploring measurement of Gross National Happiness, and ways to integrate well-being measurement with more typical economic indicators such as GDP. Keep an eye on the articles section to find out more about progress here, and to explore what might be done to improve community well-being in Hong Kong and globally.
Personal Well-being
Measures of personal wellbeing are growing more sophisticated, and some are widely used and validated. There are also a number of sub-scales for aspects of well-being, such as optimism and gratitude. Studies indicate that people who regularly show gratitude tend to have higher well-being. To find out how you’re doing with gratitude, you can try answering the following statements. It should take you no longer than 5 minutes to complete.