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Well-Being Research in South Africa

Part of the book series: Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology ((CAPP,volume 4))

Abstract

Rapid growth in positive psychology research took place over the past years, but most of the research was conducted from a Western perspective, focusing on individuals, assuming an individualistic cultural orientation and neglecting contextual influences. Although some studies indicated the important role of culture in the understanding and expression of well-being, and some indicated differences between collectivist East Asian and individualistic Western expressions of well-being, very little is known about well-being in a more collectivistic African and multicultural South African context. This volume reflects mainstream positive psychology research as conducted in South Africa, but also specifically highlights the contributions made from an African and a multicultural context to a deeper understanding of phenomena studied in positive psychology. Chapters exemplify studies in larger research programmes, and reflect basic as well as applied well-being research as conducted in various contexts and with a variety of methods and foci. Theoretical, review, and empirical research contributions are made, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches. Chapters report on research in the domains of education, work, health, and family, as well as in clinical, urban vs. rural, and unicultural vs. multicultural contexts. Studies span the well-being of adolescents, adults, and older people.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences and The Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

    Marié P. Wissing

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  1. Marié P. Wissing
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Correspondence to Marié P. Wissing .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Africa Unit for Transdis. Health, Research, North-West University:, School of Psychosoc. Behav. Scs. and, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa

    Marié P. Wissing

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Wissing, M.P. (2013). Introduction. In: Wissing, M. (eds) Well-Being Research in South Africa. Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6368-5_1

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