Six-factor model of psychological well-being

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The six-factor model of psychological well-being is a theory developed by Carol Ryff that determines six factors that contribute to an individual's psychological well-being, contentment, and happiness. [1] Psychological well-being consists of self-acceptance, positive relationships with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, a feeling of purpose and meaning in life, and personal growth and development. [2] Psychological well-being is attained by achieving a state of balance affected by both challenging and rewarding life events. [3] [4]

Contents

Measurement

The Ryff Scale of Measurement is a psychometric inventory consisting of two forms (either 54 or 84 items) in which respondents rate statements on a scale of 1 to 6, where 1 indicates strong disagreement and 6 indicates strong agreement. [1] Ryff's model is not based on merely feeling happy, but is based on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, "where the goal of life isn't feeling good, but is instead about living virtuously". [5]

The Ryff Scale is based on six factors: autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. [1] Higher total scores indicate higher psychological well-being. Following are explanations of each criterion, and an example statement from the Ryff Inventory to measure each criterion.

  1. Autonomy: High scores indicate that the respondent is independent and regulates his or her behavior independent of social pressures. An example statement for this criterion is "I have confidence in my opinions, even if they are contrary to the general consensus". [1]
  2. Environmental Mastery: High scores indicate that the respondent makes effective use of opportunities and has a sense of mastery in managing environmental factors and activities, including managing everyday affairs and creating situations to benefit personal needs. An example statement for this criterion is "In general, I feel I am in charge of the situation in which I live". [1]
  3. Personal Growth: High scores indicate that the respondent continues to develop, is welcoming to new experiences, and recognizes improvement in behavior and self over time. An example statement for this criterion is "I think it is important to have new experiences that challenge how you think about yourself and the world". [1]
  4. Positive Relations with Others: High scores reflect the respondent's engagement in meaningful relationships with others that include reciprocal empathy, intimacy, and affection. An example statement for this criterion is "People would describe me as a giving person, willing to share my time with others". [1]
  5. Purpose in Life: High scores reflect the respondent's strong goal orientation and conviction that life holds meaning. An example statement for this criterion is "Some people wander aimlessly through life, but I am not one of them". [1]
  6. Self-Acceptance: High scores reflect the respondent's positive attitude about his or her self. An example statement for this criterion is "I like most aspects of my personality" [1]

Applications and research-findings

Contributing factors

Positive contributing factors

Positive psychological well-being may emerge from numerous sources. A happy marriage is contributive, for example, as is a satisfying job or a meaningful relationship with another person. [6] When marriages include forgiveness, optimistic expectations, positive thoughts about one's spouse, and kindness, a marriage significantly improves psychological well-being. [7] A propensity to unrealistic optimism and over-exaggerated self-evaluations can be useful. These positive illusions are especially important when an individual receives threatening negative feedback, as the illusions allow for adaptation in these circumstances to protect psychological well-being and self-confidence (Taylor & Brown, 1988). Optimism also can help an individual cope with stresses to their well-being. [8]

Negative contributing factors

Psychological well-being can also be affected negatively, as is the case with a degrading and unrewarding work environment, unfulfilling obligations and unsatisfying relationships. Social interaction has a strong effect on well-being as negative social outcomes are more strongly related to well-being than are positive social outcomes. [9] Childhood traumatic experiences diminish psychological well-being throughout adult life, and can damage psychological resilience in children, adolescents, and adults. [10] Perceived stigma also diminished psychological well-being, particularly stigma in relation to obesity and other physical ailments or disabilities. [11]

Extrinsic and intrinsic psychological needs

A study conducted in the early 1990s exploring the relationship between well-being and those aspects of positive functioning that were put forth in Ryff's model indicates that persons who aspired more for financial success relative to affiliation with others or their community scored lower on various measures of well-being. [12]

Individuals that strive for a life defined by affiliation, intimacy, and contributing to one's community can be described as aspiring to fulfil their intrinsic psychological needs. In contrast, those individuals who aspire for wealth and material, social recognition, fame, image, or attractiveness can be described as aiming to fulfil their extrinsic psychological needs. The strength of an individual's intrinsic (relative to extrinsic) aspirations as indicated by rankings of importance correlates with an array of psychological outcomes. Positive correlations have been found with indications of psychological well-being: positive affect, vitality, and self-actualization. Negative correlations have been found with indicators of psychological ill-being: negative affect, depression, and anxiety. [13]

Relations with others

A more recent study confirming Ryff's notion of maintaining positive relations with others as a way of leading a meaningful life involved comparing levels of self-reported life satisfaction and subjective well-being (positive/negative affect). Results suggested that individuals whose actions had underlying eudaimonic tendencies as indicated by their self-reports (e.g., "I seek out situations that challenge my skills and abilities") were found to possess higher subjective well-being and life satisfaction scores compared to participants who did not. [14] Individuals were grouped according to their chosen paths/strategies to happiness as identified by their answers on an Orientation to Happiness Questionnaire. [15] The questionnaire describes and differentiates individuals on the basis of three orientations to happiness which can be pursued, though some individuals do not pursue any. The "pleasure" orientation describes a path to happiness that is associated with adopting hedonistic life goals to satisfy only one's extrinsic needs. Engagement and meaning orientations describe a pursuit of happiness that integrates two positive psychology constructs "flow/engagement" and "eudaimonia/meaning". Both of the latter orientations are also associated with aspiring to meet intrinsic needs for affiliation and community and were amalgamated by Anić and Tončić into a single "eudaimonic" path to happiness that elicited high scores on all measures of well-being and life satisfaction. Importantly, she also produced scales for assessing mental health. [2] This factor structure has been debated, [16] [17] but has generated much research in wellbeing, health, and successful aging.

Personality

Meta-analytic research shows that psychological well-being scales correlate strongly with all of the Big Five personality traits. Neuroticism is the strongest Big Five predictor of psychological well-being, correlating negatively with psychological well-being. In particular, openness has strong connections with personal growth, agreeableness and extraversion are notably related to positive relations, and conscientiousness is notably related to environmental mastery and purpose in life. [18]

Heritability

Individual differences in both overall Eudaimonia, identified loosely with self-control and in the facets of eudaimonia are heritable. Evidence from one study supports 5 independent genetic mechanisms underlying the Ryff facets of this trait, leading to a genetic construct of eudaimonia in terms of general self-control, and four subsidiary biological mechanisms enabling the psychological capabilities of purpose, agency, growth, and positive social relations. [19]

Well-being therapy

According to Seligman, positive interventions to attain positive human experience should not be at the expense of disregarding human suffering, weakness, and disorder. A therapy based on Ryff's six elements was developed by Fava and others in these regards. [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happiness</span> Mental state, noted for pleasant emotions

Happiness is a positive and pleasant emotion, ranging from contentment to intense joy. Moments of happiness may be triggered by positive life experiences or thoughts, but sometimes it may arise from no obvious cause. The level of happiness for longer periods of time is more strongly correlated with levels of life satisfaction, subjective well-being, flourishing and eudaimonia. In common usage, the word happy can be an appraisal of those measures themselves or as a shorthand for a "source" of happiness. As with any emotion, the precise definition of happiness has been a perennial debate in philosophy.

Positive psychology studies the conditions that contribute to the optimal functioning of people, groups, and institutions. It studies "positive subjective experience, positive individual traits, and positive institutions... it aims to improve quality of life."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gratitude</span> Feeling or attitude in acknowledgement of a benefit that one has received or will receive

Gratitude, thankfulness, or gratefulness is a feeling of appreciation by a recipient of another's kindness. This kindness can be gifts, help, favors, or another form of generosity to another person.

The hedonic treadmill, also known as hedonic adaptation, is the observed tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Confidence</span> State of trusting that a belief or course of action is correct

Confidence is the state of being clear-headed: either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct, or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective. Confidence comes from the Latin word fidere which means "to trust". In contrast, arrogance or hubris is a state of unmerited confidence—belief lacking evidence and/or a reason. Overconfidence or presumptuousness is excessive belief in success without regard for potential failure. Confidence can be a self-fulfilling prophecy, as those without it may fail because they lack it, and those with it may succeed because they have it rather than because of an innate ability or skill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Affect (psychology)</span> Experience of feeling or emotion

Affect, in psychology, refers to the underlying experience of feeling, emotion, attachment, or mood. In psychology, "affect" refers to the experience of feeling or emotion. It encompasses a wide range of emotional states and can be positive or negative. Affect is a fundamental aspect of human experience and plays a central role in many psychological theories and studies. It can be understood as a combination of three components: emotion, mood, and affectivity. In psychology, the term "affect" is often used interchangeably with several related terms and concepts, though each term may have slightly different nuances. These terms encompass: emotion, feeling, mood, emotional state, sentiment, affective state, emotional response, affective reactivity, disposition. Researchers and psychologists may employ specific terms based on their focus and the context of their work.

Positive illusions are unrealistically favorable attitudes that people have towards themselves or to people that are close to them. Positive illusions are a form of self-deception or self-enhancement that feel good; maintain self-esteem; or avoid discomfort, at least in the short term. There are three general forms: inflated assessment of one's own abilities, unrealistic optimism about the future, and an illusion of control. The term "positive illusions" originates in a 1988 paper by Taylor and Brown. "Taylor and Brown's (1988) model of mental health maintains that certain positive illusions are highly prevalent in normal thought and predictive of criteria traditionally associated with mental health."

Self-acceptance is acceptance of self.

Self-enhancement is a type of motivation that works to make people feel good about themselves and to maintain self-esteem. This motive becomes especially prominent in situations of threat, failure or blows to one's self-esteem. Self-enhancement involves a preference for positive over negative self-views. It is one of the three self-evaluation motives along with self-assessment and self-verification . Self-evaluation motives drive the process of self-regulation, that is, how people control and direct their own actions.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Well-being</span> General term for condition of individual or group

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Extraversion and introversion</span> Personality trait

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Subjective well-being (SWB) is a self-reported measure of well-being, typically obtained by questionnaire.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Seifert, T. A. (2005). The Ryff scales of psychological well-being. Assessment Notes
  2. 1 2 Ryff, C. D. (1989). "Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 57 (6): 1069–1081. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069. S2CID   29135711.
  3. ↑ Dodge, Rachel; Daly, Annette; Huyton, Jan; Sanders, Lalage (2012). "The challenge of defining wellbeing". International Journal of Wellbeing. 2 (3): 222–235. doi: 10.5502/ijw.v2i3.4 .
  4. ↑ Muttaqin, Darmawan (2022-10-27). "Internal Structure Evaluation on the Indonesian Version of Psychological Well-Being Scales". Psympathic: Jurnal Ilmiah Psikologi. 9 (1): 01–16. doi: 10.15575/psy.v9i1.10710 . ISSN   2502-2903. S2CID   253197366.
  5. ↑ Carol Ryff's Model of Psychological Well-being The Six Criteria of Well-Being
  6. ↑ Diener, Ed (1994). "Assessing subjective well-being: Progress and opportunities". Social Indicators Research. 31 (2): 103–157. doi:10.1007/BF01207052. S2CID   145384373.
  7. ↑ McNulty, James K.; Fincham, Frank D. (2012). "Beyond positive psychology? Toward a contextual view of psychological processes and well-being". American Psychologist. 67 (2): 101–110. doi:10.1037/a0024572. PMC   4112753 . PMID   21787036.
  8. ↑ Scheier, Michael F.; Carver, Charles S. (1992). "Effects of optimism on psychological and physical well-being: Theoretical overview and empirical update". Cognitive Therapy and Research. 16 (2): 201–228. doi:10.1007/BF01173489. S2CID   6849439.
  9. ↑ Rook, Karen S. (1984). "The negative side of social interaction: Impact on psychological well-being". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 46 (5): 1097–1108. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.46.5.1097. PMID   6737206. S2CID   8214665.
  10. ↑ Nurius, Paula S.; Green, Sara; Logan-Greene, Patricia; Borja, Sharon (2015). "Life course pathways of adverse childhood experiences toward adult psychological well-being: A stress process analysis". Child Abuse & Neglect. 45: 143–153. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.03.008. PMC   4470711 . PMID   25846195.
  11. ↑ Jackson, Sarah E.; Beeken, Rebecca J.; Wardle, Jane (2015). "Obesity, perceived weight discrimination, and psychological well-being in older adults in England". Obesity. 23 (5): 1105–1111. doi:10.1002/oby.21052. PMC   4414736 . PMID   25809860.
  12. ↑ Kasser, Tim; Ryan, Richard M. (1993). "A Dark Side of the American Dream: Correlates of Financial Success as a Central Life Aspiration". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 65 (2): 410–422. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.65.2.410. PMID   8366427.
  13. ↑ Kasser, Tim; Ryan, Richard M. (1996-03-01). "Further Examining the American Dream: Differential Correlates of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Goals". Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 22 (3): 280–287. doi:10.1177/0146167296223006. ISSN   0146-1672. S2CID   143559692.
  14. ↑ Anic, Petra; Tončić, Marko (2013). "Orientations to Happiness, Subjective Well-being and Life Goals". Psihologijske Teme. 22 (1): 135–153.
  15. ↑ Peterson, Christopher; Park, Nansook; Seligman, Martin E. P. (2005-03-01). "Orientations to happiness and life satisfaction: the full life versus the empty life" (PDF). Journal of Happiness Studies. 6 (1): 25–41. doi:10.1007/s10902-004-1278-z. hdl: 2027.42/43062 . ISSN   1389-4978. S2CID   40294484.
  16. ↑ Springer, K. W.; Hauser, R. M.; Freese, J. (2006). "Bad news indeed for Ryff's six-factor model of well-being". Social Science Research. 35 (4): 1120–1131. doi:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2006.01.003.
  17. ↑ Ryff, C. D.; Singer, B. H. (2006). "Best news yet on the six-factor model of well-being". Social Science Research. 35 (4): 1103–1119. doi:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2006.01.002.
  18. ↑ Anglim, Jeromy; Horwood, Sharon; Smillie, Luke D.; Marrero, Rosario J.; Wood, Joshua K. (April 2020). "Predicting psychological and subjective well-being from personality: A meta-analysis". Psychological Bulletin. 146 (4): 279–323. doi:10.1037/bul0000226. ISSN   1939-1455. PMID   31944795. S2CID   210698453.
  19. ↑ Archontaki, Despina; Lewis, Gary J.; Bates, Timothy C. (1 March 2012). "Genetic influences on psychological well-being: A nationally representative twin study". Journal of Personality. 81 (2): 221–230. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.407.1613 . doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2012.00787.x. PMID   22432931.
  20. ↑ Fava, Giovanni A.; Ruini, Chiara (2003). "Development and characteristics of a well-being enhancing psychotherapeutic strategy: well-being therapy". Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. 34 (1): 45–63. doi:10.1016/S0005-7916(03)00019-3. PMID   12763392.

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