The Dimensions of Psychological Well-Being

Abstract

The concept of psychological well-being has intrinsic interest to social psychologists and relates to a more general literature on adjustment, competence, mood indicators, and so on. Data from two surveys are presented which partially replicate Bradburn's studies in psychological well-being and which suggest that the constructs of "positive and negative affect" in Bradburn's work are an oversimplification. It is argued that there is insufficient evidence for the usefulness of the balance model of psychological well-being. Existing research on the dimensions of emotion is discussed.