


17, 25 Although a substantial proportion of the variance in well-being can be attributed to heritable factors, 26, 27 environmental factors play an equally if not more important role. 15, 16 This research also supports the view that positive emotions-central components of well-being-are not merely the opposite of negative emotions, but are independent dimensions of mental health that can, and should be fostered.

Previous research lends support to the view that the negative affect component of well-being is strongly associated with neuroticism and that positive affect component has a similar association with extraversion. 9-13 Individuals with high levels of well-being are more productive at work and are more likely to contribute to their communities. 8 For example, higher levels of well-being are associated with decreased risk of disease, illness, and injury better immune functioning speedier recovery and increased longevity. Well-being is associated with numerous health-, job-, family-, and economically-related benefits.

What are some findings from these studies?.How does well-being relate to health promotion?.Why is well-being useful for public health?.However, many indicators that measure living conditions fail to measure what people think and feel about their lives, such as the quality of their relationships, their positive emotions and resilience, the realization of their potential, or their overall satisfaction with life-i.e., their “well-being.” 1, 2 Well-being generally includes global judgments of life satisfaction and feelings ranging from depression to joy. Tracking these conditions is important for public policy. Good living conditions (e.g., housing, employment) are fundamental to well-being. Well-being is a positive outcome that is meaningful for people and for many sectors of society, because it tells us that people perceive that their lives are going well.
