Well-being refers to a person’s overall happiness and satisfaction with their life (Diener et al., 2006). It involves different aspects, such as feeling positive emotions, having a sense of purpose and meaning, having good relationships with others, and achieving personal growth and development (Ryan & Deci, 2001). According to researchers, there are two types of well-being: hedonic and eudaimonic. Hedonic well-being is focused on pleasure and the pursuit of positive emotions (Kashdan et al., 2008), while eudaimonic well-being is centered on fulfilling one’s potential and finding meaning and purpose in life (Huta & Waterman, 2014). Both types of well-being are important, but it is suggested that eudaimonic well-being may be more beneficial in the long-term (Waterman, 2008). It is also important to note that while happiness and positive emotions are generally good, there may be instances where they can have negative effects on a person’s well-being, such as when they lead to harmful behaviors or a lack of personal growth (Gruber et al., 2011).
References
Diener, E., Lucas, R., & Scollon, C. N. (2006). Beyond the hedonic treadmill: Revising the
adaptation theory of well-being. American Psychologist, 61, 305-314.
Gruber, J., Mauss, I. B., & Tamir, M. (2011). A dark side of happiness? How, when, and why
happiness is not always good. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6, 222-233.
Huta, V., & Waterman, A. S. (2014). Eudaimonia and its distinction from hedonia: Developing a
classification and terminology for understanding conceptual and operational definitions.
Journal of Happiness Studies, 15(6), 1425-1456.
Kashdan, T. B., Biswas-Diener, R., & King, L. A. (2008). Reconsidering happiness: The costs of
distinguishing between hedonics and eudaimonia. Journal of Positive Psychology, 3, 219-
233.
Waterman, A. S. (2008). Reconsidering happiness: A eudaimonist’s perspective. Journal of Positive
Psychology, 3, 234-252.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2001). Happiness and human potentials. Annual Review of Psychology,
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