Values and the Nature of Psychological Well-being

Abstract

This chapter examines the role of individual psychological factors, with particular reference to life circumstances and emotional experiences contributing towards positive mental health, happiness or well-being. (Happiness and well-being are frequently used synonymously in the research literature). How much are they valued by people? Are people frequently upset, pleased, excited, lonely? How much do these emotions affect the overall level of satisfaction with life? How much do different life experiences, a satisfying job, a happy home life, or loss of a spouse, affect a person’s psychological state? These are some of the questions which data from the European Values Survey lead us to address.