Main description:

The third, thoroughly revised and enhanced edition of this bestselling book analyses and discusses the most up-to-date research on the psychology of quality of life. The book is divided into six parts. The introductory part lays the philosophical and academic foundation of much of the research on wellbeing and positive mental health, showing the beneficial effects of happy people at work, health, and to society at large. Part 2 (effects of objective reality) describes how sociocultural factors, income factors, other demographic factors, and biological and health conditions affect wellbeing and positive mental health. Part 3 focuses on subjective reality and discusses how individuals process information from their objective environment, and how they manipulate this information that affects wellbeing and positive mental health. Part 4 focuses on the psychology of quality of life specific to life domains, while Part 5 reviews the research on special populations: children, women, the elderly, but also the disabled, drug addicts, prostitutes, emergency personnel, immigrants, teachers, and caregivers. The final part of the book focuses on theories and models of wellbeing and positive mental health that integrate and unify disparate concepts and programs of research. The book addresses the importance of the psychology of quality of life in the context of public policy and calls for a broadening of the approach in happiness research to incorporate other aspects of quality of life at the group, community, and societal levels. It is of topical interest to academics, students and researchers of quality of life, well-being research, happiness studies, psychotherapy, and social policy.

Contents:

Preface

Part I: Introduction

Chapter 1: Philosophical Foundations, Definitions, and Measures of Wellbeing
Chapter 2: Further Distinctions among Major Concepts of Wellbeing
Chapter 3: Positive Outcomes of Wellbeing

Part II: Objective Reality and Effects on Wellbeing

Chapter 4: Effects of Technological, Economic, Political, and Socio-Cultural Factors on Wellbeing
Chapter 5: Effects of Resources (Time, Money, Income, and Wealth) on Wellbeing
Chapter 6: Effects of Demographic Factors on Wellbeing
Chapter 7: Effects of Personal and Consumption Activities on Wellbeing
Chapter 8: Effects of Biology, Drugs, Life Events, and the Environment on Wellbeing

Part III: Subjective Reality and Effects on Wellbeing

Chapter 9: Effects of Personality on Wellbeing
Chapter 10: Effects of Affect and Cognition on Wellbeing
Chapter 11: Effects of Beliefs and Values on Wellbeing

Chapter 12: Effects of Needs and Need Satisfaction on Wellbeing
Chapter 13: Effects of Goals on Wellbeing
Chapter 14: Effects of Self-Concept on WellbeingChapter 15: Effects of Social Comparisons on Wellbeing

Part IV: Life Domains and Effects on Wellbeing

Chapter 16: Effects of Domain Dynamics on Wellbeing
Chapter 17: Work Wellbeing
Chapter 18: Residential Wellbeing
Chapter 19: Material Wellbeing
Chapter 20: Social, Family, and Marital Wellbeing
Chapter 21: Health Wellbeing
Chapter 22: Leisure Wellbeing
Chapter 23: Wellbeing in Other Life Domains

Part V: Population Segments and Wellbeing

Chapter 24: The Wellbeing of Children and Youth
Chapter 25: The Wellbeing of Older Adults
Chapter 26: The Wellbeing of Women
Chapter 27: The Wellbeing of Geographic Population Segments
Chapter 28: The Wellbeing of Specialty Population Segments

Part VI: Epilogue

Chapter 29: Integrative Models of Wellbeing
Chapter 30: Philosophy and Public Policy Issues Related to Wellbeing

Appendix: Wellbeing Measurement Issues

Index