Subjective Wellbeing
A person's own evaluation of their life including emotional experiences and life satisfaction.
Also known as: SWB, Personal wellbeing, Self-assessed happiness
Category: Concepts
Tags: happiness, well-being, psychology, life-satisfaction, emotions
Explanation
Subjective wellbeing (SWB) is the scientific term for how people evaluate their own lives. It has two components: affective (the balance of positive to negative emotions) and cognitive (life satisfaction judgments). High SWB means: frequent positive emotions, infrequent negative emotions, and satisfaction with life overall. SWB is 'subjective' because it relies on individual assessment rather than external criteria - what makes one person satisfied may not work for another. Research shows SWB correlates with: better health, longer life, better relationships, and higher productivity. Factors that influence SWB include: relationships, meaningful work, health, autonomy, and basic needs met. Importantly, income increases SWB only up to a point (meeting needs). For knowledge workers, understanding SWB helps: define personal wellbeing goals, track progress meaningfully, and recognize that wellbeing is multi-dimensional - happiness alone isn't the whole picture.
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