The Concept of Well-Being in Social Sciences
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2024.6.2800Keywords:
objective well-being, subjective well-being, domains of well-being, quality of life, happinessAbstract
In 2025, the Prometheus Publishing House will publish a collective monograph Well-being and Development of Human Potential (eds. Ovcharova L.N., Anikin V.A.). The journal Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes presents an abridged version of the chapter devoted to approaches to conceptualizing the term well-being based on existing theoretical and empirical developments in the Russian and foreign studies. In recent decades, the number of works on subjective well-being, including reviews, has increased significantly. Despite this, the scientific literature lacks a comprehensive analysis of the concept of well-being, including both its objective and subjective components. Even in the reviews, terminological ambiguity remains since a number of concepts close in meaning are used as synonyms for the term well-being, as well as due to differences in the professional field of the authors. Without claiming exclusivity, the authors of this article offer an interdisciplinary attempt to generalize and classify the ways of conceptualizing well-being in the social sciences and systematize the experience of Russian scientists from different fields of knowledge. The article proposes to consider five ways of conceptualization, namely: (1) well-being in the welfare economy; (2) well-being as satisfaction of needs, (3) well-being as opportunities, (4) cognitive self-assessments of one's own life, (5) well-being viewed through affective assessments.
Acknowledgements. The article was prepared in the framework of a research grant funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (grant ID: 075-15-2022-325).
The authors express their deep gratitude to L.N. Ovcharova for valuable comments at the stage of preliminary discussion of the key ideas of the manuscript, to the participants of the section Russian Society in the “Crisis” Decade (on the 10th Anniversary of Sociological Monitoring of the Institute of Sociology of the Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences) within the framework of the Conference Sociology: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow. On the 50th Anniversary of the Journal “Sociological Research” for the discussion of the operationalization of objective well-being, as well as to N. Mikhailova and S. Ter-Akopov for valuable ideas expressed during the preparation of the manuscript.
References
Аверьянова О. Ю., Шавшаева Л.В. Психологическое благополучие личности // Интеграция науки и образования в XXI веке: психология, педагогика, дефектология. 2016. С. 10-15.
Averianova O., Shavshaeva L. (2016) Psychological Well-Being Personality. In: M. I. Kargin, A. N. Yashkova (eds.) Integration of Science and Education in the 21st Century: Psychology, Pedagogy, Defectology. P. 10-15. (In Russ.)
Айвазян С.А., Степанов В.С., Козлова М. И. Измерение синтетических категорий качества жизни населения региона и выявление ключевых направлений совершенствования социально-экономической политики (на примере Самарской области и ее муниципальных образований) // Прикладная эконометрика. 2006. № 2. С. 18-84.
Aivazian S., Stepanov V., Kozlova M. (2006) Measuring the Synthetic Categories of Quality of Life in a Region and Identification of Main Trends to Improve the Social and Economic Policy (Samara Region and Its Constituent Territories). Applied Econometrics. No. 2. P. 18-84. (In Russ.)
Алмакаева А. М. Субъективное качество жизни: основные проблемы исследования // Вестник Самарского государственного университета. 2006. № 5-1. С. 41-47.
Almakaeva A. (2006) Subjective Well-Being: the Main Investigational Problems. Vestnik of Samara State University. No. 5-1. P. 41-47. (In Russ.)
Бентам И. Избранные сочинения. Т. 1. Введение в основание нравственности и законодательства. Основные начала гражданского кодекса. Основные начала уголовного кодекса. Т. 1. СПб.: Русская книжная торговля, 1867.
Bentham J. (1867) Selected Works. Vol. 1. An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation. Traités de législation civile et pénale. Moscow: Russian Book Trade. (In Russ.)
Беляева Л. А. Уровень и качество жизни. Проблемы измерения и интерпретации // Социологические исследования. 2009. № 1. С. 33-42.
Beliaeva L.A. (2009) Level and Quality of Life. Measurement and Interpretation Issues. Sotsiologicheskie Issledovaniya. No. 1. P. 33-42. (In Russ.)
Бобков В. Н. Бедность, уровень и качество жизни: методология анализа и механизмы реализации // Уровень жизни населения регионов России. 2005. № 1. С. 7-20.
Bobkov V.N. (2005) Poverty, Standard of Living and Quality of Life: Methodology of Analysis and Mechanisms of Implementation. Living Standards of the Population in the Regions of Russia. No. 1. P. 7-20. (In Russ.)
Бонивелл И. Ключи к благополучию: что может позитивная психология. М.: Время, 2009.
Boniwell I. (2009) Positive Psychology in a Nutshell. Moscow: Vremya. (In Russ.)
Видясова Л., Григорьева И. Россия в международных индексах качества жизни пожилых // Журнал социологии и социальной антропологии. 2016. Т. 19. № 1. С. 181-193.
Vidiasova L., Grigoryeva I. (2016) Russia in the International Quality of Ageing Indexes. The Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology. Vol. 19. No. 1. P. 181-193. (In Russ.)
Возьмитель А. А. Качество жизни в доперестроечной и пореформенной России // Социологические исследования. 2013. № 2. С. 25-32.
Voz'mitel A.A. (2013) Quality of Life in Pre-perestroika and Post-reform Russia. Socilological Studies. No. 2. P. 25-32. (In Russ.)
Гордеев С. С., Зырянов С. Г., Ситковский А. М. Оценки качества жизни и социальных приоритетов развития территорий // Вестник Челябинского государственного университета. 2019. № 11. С. 38-47.
Gordeev S.S, Zyryanov S.G., Sitkovskiy A.M. (2019) Assessment of the Quality of Life and Social Priorities for the Development of Territories. Bulletin of Chelyabinsk State University. No. 11. P.28-47. (In Russ.)
Гоффе Н. В., Монусова Г. А. Социальное благополучие: восприятие реалий // Южно-российский журнал социальных наук. 2018. № 3. С. 21-36. https://doi.org/10.31429/26190567-19-3-21-36.
Goffe N.V., Monusova G.A. (2018) Well-Being: Reality and Its Perception. South-Russian Journal of Social Sciences. No. 3. P. 21-36.https://doi.org/10.31429/26190567-19-3-21-36. (In Russ.)
Дмитренко Е. А., Голова Е. Е. Показатели качества жизни сельского населения // Московский экономический журнал. 2018. № 5 С. 206-216. https://doi.org/10.24411/2413-046Х-2018-15030.
Dmitrenko E.A., Golova E.E. (2018) Indicators of the Quality of Life of the Rural Population. Moscow Economic Journal. No. 5. P. 206-216. https://doi.org/10.24411/2413-046Х-2018-15030. (In Russ.)
Долгов Ю. Н. Субъективное благополучие личности в контексте жизненных стратегий // Личность, семья и общество: вопросы педагогики и психологии. 2013. № 32. С. 75-79.
Dolgov Yu. (2013) Subjective Well-Being of a Person in the Context of Life Strategies. Personality, Family and Society: Issues of Pedagogy and Psychology. No. 32. P.75-79. (In Russ.)
Еникеева Л. А., Ширшикова М. С. Модели прогнозирования качества жизни на основе международных индексов // Современные проблемы науки и образования. 2015. № 1-1. С. 656-663.
Enikeeva L.A., Shirshikova M.S. (2015). Prognosis Models of Quality of Life on the Basis International Indexes. Modern Problems of Science and Education. No. 1-1. P. 656-663. (In Russ.)
Козлова О. А., Гладкова Т. В., Макарова М. Н., Тухтарова Е. Х. Методический подход к измерению качества жизни населения региона // Экономика региона. 2015. № 2. С. 182-193. https://doi.org/10.17059/2015-2-15.
Kozlova O. A., Gladkova T. V., Makarova M. N., Tukhtarova Ye. Kh. (2015) Methodical Approach to Measuring the Life Quality in Region. Economy of Regions. No. 2. P. 182-193. https://doi.org/10.17059/2015-2-15. (In Russ.)
Кученкова А. В. Социальное самочувствие и субъективное благополучие: соотношение понятий и способов измерения //Вестник РГГУ. Серия «Философия. Социология. Искусствоведение». 2016. № 2. С. 118-127.
Kuchenkova A. (2016) Social Self-Perception and Subjective Well-Being. A Review of Definitions and Measurement Models. RGGU BULLETIN. Series Philosophy. Social Studies. Art Studies. No. 2. P.118-127. (In Russ.)
Лал Д. Возвращение «невидимой руки»: Актуальность классического либерализма в XXI веке. М.: Новое издательство, 2009.
Lal D. (2009) Reviving the Invisible Hand: The Сase for Сlassical Liberalism in the Twentyfirst Century. Moscow: Novoe izdatel'stvo. (In Russ.)
Лебедева А. А. Теоретические подходы и методологические проблемы изучения качества жизни в науках о человеке // Психология. Журнал Высшей школы экономики. 2012. Т. 9. № 2. С. 3-19.
Lebedeva A.A. (2012) Theoretical Approaches and Methodological Issues of Life Quality Research in Human Sciences. Psychology. Journal of the Higher School of Economics. Vol. 9. No. 2. P. 3-19. (In Russ.)
Леонтьев Д. А. Счастье и субъективное благополучие: к конструированию понятийного поля // Мониторинг общественного мнения: Экономические и социальные перемены. 2020. № 1. С. 14—37. https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2020.1.02.
Leontiev D.A. (2020) Happiness and Well-Being: Toward the Construction of the Conceptual Field. Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes. No. 1. P. 14—37. https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2020.1.02. (In Russ.)
Матюшина М. Г. Основные подходы к раскрытию понятия «Субъективное благополучие» в отечественной и зарубежной психологии // Известия Российского государственного педагогического университета им. АИ Герцена. 2016. № 182. С. 127-131.
Matyushina M. (2016) Main Approaches to the Concept of Disclosure “Subjective Well-Being” in the Domestic and Foreign Psychologist. Izvestia: Herzen University Journal of Humanities & Sciences. No. 182. P. 127-131. (In Russ.)
Мозговая А. В., Шлыкова Е. В. Социальные ресурсы и адаптация к риску: выбор стратегии (на примере социальной общности в ситуации конкретного риска) // Социологическая наука и социальная практика. 2014. Т. 4. № 8. С. 25-49.
Mozgovaya A., Shlykova E. (2014) Social Resources and Adaptation to Risk: The Choice of Strategy (by the Example the Social Community in the Situation of Particular Risk). Sociological Science and Social Practice. Vol. 4. No. 8. P. 25-49.
Прозоровская К.А., Тестова В.С. Социальное благополучие персонала: монография. СПб.: Изд-во СПбГЭУ, 2022.
Prozorovskaya K.A., Testova V.S. (2022) Social Well-Being of the Staff. Saint Petersburg: St. Petersburg State University of Economics Publishing House. (In Russ.)
Рассказова Е. И. Качество жизни как междисциплинарная проблема: теоретические подходы и диагностика качества жизни в психологии, социологии и медицине // Теоретическая и экспериментальная психология. 2012. Т. 5. № 2. С. 59-71.
Rasskazova E.I. (2012) Quality of Life as an Interdisciplinary Problem: Theoretical Approaches and Diagnostics of the Quality of Life in Psychology, Sociology and Medicine. Theoretical and Experimental Psychology. Vol. 5. No. 2. P. 59-71. (In Russ.)
Рогозин Д. Тестирование вопросов о социальном самочувствии // Социальная реальность. 2007. № 2. С. 97-113.
Rogozin D. (2007) Testing Questions About Social Well-Being. Social Reality. No. 2. P.97-113. (In Russ.)
Российская семья и благополучие детей / отв. ред. И.И. Елисеева. М.; СПб.: ФНИСЦ РАН, 2021. https://doi.org/10.19181/monogr.978-5-89697-360-7.2021.
Eliseeva I. (ed.) (2021) Russian Family and Children’s Well-Being. Moscow; Saint Petersburg: FSTAS RAS. https://doi.org/10.19181/monogr.978-5-89697-360-7.2021. (In Russ.)
Рыкун А Ю., Черникова Д.В., Сухушина Е.В., Березкин А.Ю. Измерение качества жизни в городах: возможности индексного подхода // Журнал исследований социальной политики. 2020. Т. 18. № 2. С. 283-298. https://doi.org/10.17323/727-0634-2020-18-2-283-298 .
Rykun A.Yu., Chernikova D., Sukhushina E., Beryozkin A. (2020) Measuring the Quality of Life in Urban Areas: The Feasibility of Using the Index Approach. The Journal of Social Policy Studies. Vol. 18. No. 2. P. 283-298. https://doi.org/10.17323/727-0634-2020-18-2-283-298. (In Russ.)
Сен А. Идея справедливости. М.: Изд-во Института Гайдара, 2016.
Sen A. (2016) The Idea of Justice. Moscow: Gaidar Institute Press. (In Russ.)
Сен А. Развитие как свобода. М.: Новое издательство, 2004.
Sen A. (2004) Development as Freedom. Moscow: Novoe izdatel'stvo. (In Russ.)
Социальное благополучие населения (по результатам социологического мониторинга общественного мнения жителей г. Уфы) / ред. Егорышев С. В., Ахмадуллина Х. М. М.: ФЛИНТА, 2018. — 208 с.
Egoryshev S.V., Ahmadullina H.M. (eds). (2018) Social Well-Being of the Population (the Results of Sociological Monitoring of Public Opinion of Residents of Ufa). Moscow: FLINTA. (In Russ.)
Социологические подходы к изучению социального благополучия / отв. ред. М. Ф. Черныш, Ю. Б. Епихина. М.: ФНИСЦ РАН, 2021. https://doi.org/10.19181/monogr.978-5-89697-377-5.2021.
Chernysh M.F., Epikhina Yu.B. (eds.) (2021) Sociological Approaches to the Study of Social Well-Being. Moscow: FSTAS RAS. https://doi.org/10.19181/monogr.978-5-89697-377-5.2021. (In Russ.)
Студенческая семья в России: барьеры и возможности благополучия / отв. ред. Т. К. Ростовская; ИДИ ФНИСЦ РАН. Иваново: Ивановский государственный университет, 2024.
Rostovskaya T. (ed.) (2024) Student Family in Russia: Barriers and Opportunities for Well—Being. Ivanovo: Ivanovo State University. (In Russ.)
Трошихина Е. Г., Манукян В. Р. Тревожность и устойчивые эмоциональные состояния в структуре психоэмоционального благополучия // Вестник Санкт-Петербургского университета. Психология. 2017. Т. 7. № 3. С. 211-223.
Troshikhina E.G., Manukyan V.R (2017) Anxiety and Stable Emotional States in the Structure of Psycho-Emotional Wellbeing. Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Psychology. Vol. 7. No. 3. P. 211-233. (In Russ.)
Человеческий потенциал: современные трактовки и результаты исследований / под науч. ред. Л. Н. Овчаровой, В. А. Аникина, П. С. Сорокина. М.: ВЦИОМ, 2023.
Ovcharova L.N., Anikin V.A., Sorokin P.S. (eds.) (2023) Human Potential: Modern Interpretations and Research Results. Moscow: VCIOM. (In Russ.)
Черныш М. Ф. Факторы, влияющие на переживание счастья в российском обществе // Социологическая наука и социальная практика. 2019. Т. 7. № 2. С. 9-33. https://doi.org/10.19181/snsp.2019.7.2.6407.
Chernysh M. (2019) Factors of Influence on the State of Happiness in the Contemporary Russian Society. Sociological Science and Social Practice. Vol. 7. No. 2. P. 9-33. https://doi.org/10.19181/snsp.2019.7.2.6407. (In Russ.)
Шамионов Р. М. Психология субъективного благополучия личности. Саратов: Издательство Саратовского университета, 2004.
Shamionov R.M. (2004) Psychology of Subjective Well-Being of a Person. Saratov: Saratov University Publishing House. (In Russ.)
Яремчук С.В., Новгородова Е.Ф. Саморазвитие и субъективное благополучие современной молодежи. М.: ИНФРА-М, 2015.
Yaremtchuk S., Novogorodova E. (2015) Self-Development and Subjective Well-Being of Modern Youth. Moscow: INFRA-M. (In Russ.)
Allardt E. (1976) Dimensions of Welfare in a Comparative Scandinavian Study. Acta sociologica. Vol. 19. No. 3. P. 227-239. https://doi.org/10.1177/000169937601900302.
Arrow K. (2012) Social Choice and Individual Values. Third Edition. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
Biddle S. J. H., Gorely T., Faulkner G., Mutrie N. (2023) Psychology of Physical Activity: A 30-Year Reflection on Correlates, Barriers, and Theory. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. Vol. 21. No. 1. P. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2022.2147261.
Das K. V., Jones-Harrell C., Fan Y. et al. (2020) Understanding Subjective Well-Being: Perspectives from Psychology and Public Health Public Health Reviews. Vol. 41. P. 1-32. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40985-020-00142-5.
Deci E. L., Ryan R. M. (2012) Self-Determination Theory. In: P. A. M. Van Lange, A. W. Kruglanski, E. T. Higgins (eds.) Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology. Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications. P. 416-436. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446249215.n21.
Diener E., Fujita F. (2013) Comparisons and Subjective Well-Being. In: Buunk B.P, Gibbons F.X., Buunk A. (eds.) Health, Coping, and Well-Being. New York, NY: Psychology Press. P. 329-357. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203774106.
Dolan P., Layard R., Metcalfe R. (2011) Measuring Subjective Wellbeing for Public Policy: Recommendations on Measures (No. 23). London: Centre for Economic Performance, LSE. https://eprints.lse.ac.uk/35420/1/measuring-subjective-wellbeing-for-public-policy.pdf (accessed: 31.10.2024).
Durand M. (2015) The OECD Better Life Initiative: How’s Life? And the Measurement of Well‐Being. Review of Income and Wealth. Vol. 6. No. 1. P. 4-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/roiw.12156.
Frijda N. H. (1994) Varieties of Affect: Emotions and Episodes, Moods, and Sentiments. In: P. Ekman & R. J. Davidson (eds.) The Nature of Emotion: Fundamental Questions. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. P. 59—67. https://hdl.handle.net/11245/1.418417. (accessed: 31.10.2024).
Helliwell J. F., Layard R., Sachs J. D., De Neve J.-E., Aknin L. B., Wang S. (eds.) (2024) World Happiness Report 2024. University of Oxford: Wellbeing Research Centre. https://doi.org/10.18724/whr-f1p2-qj33.
Kahneman D. (1999) Objective Happiness. In: D. Kahneman, E. Diener, N. Schwarz (eds.) Well-being: The Foundations of Hedonic Psychology. New York, NY: Russell Sage. P. 3—25. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0953820806231972.
Kahneman D., Deaton A. (2010) High Income Improves Evaluation of Life but Not Emotional Well-Being. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Vol. 107. No. 38. P.16489-16493. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1011492107.
Kapteyn A., Lee, J., Tassot, C., Vonkova H., Zamarro G. (2015) Dimensions of Subjective Well-Being. Social Indicators Research. Vol. 123. P. 625-660. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-014-0753-0.
Lazarsfeld P. F. (1958). Evidence and Inference in Social Research. Daedalus. Vol. 87. No. 4. P. 99-130. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20026465.
Leelavathi D. S., Gopalakrishna B. V. (2012) Amartya Sen's Contribution to Human Development. Anveshana. Vol. 2. No. 2. P. 50-59.
Lewis M., Haviland-Jones J. M., Barrett L. F. (eds.) (2010) Handbook of Emotions. London: Guilford Press.
Matheson J. (2011). National Statistician’s Reflections on the National Debate on Measuring National Well-Being. London: Office for National Statistics.
Meadow H.L., Mentzer J.T., Rahtz D.R. et al. (1992). A Life Satisfaction Measure Based on Judgment Theory. Social Indicators Research. Vol. 26. P. 23—59. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00303824.
Michalos A. C. (1985) Multiple discrepancies theory (MDT). Social Indicators Research. Vol. 16. P. 347-413. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00333288.
Noll H. H. (2018) Social Monitoring and Reporting: A Success Story in Applied Research on Social Indicators and Quality of Life. Social Indicators Research. Vol. 135. No. 3. P. 951-964. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-016-1513-0.
Parkinson B. (1996) Emotions are Social. British Journal of Psychology. Vol. 87. No. 4. P. 663-683. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8295.1996.tb02615.x.
Robinson M. D., Clore G. L. (2002) Episodic and Semantic Knowledge in Emotional Self-Report: Evidence for Two Judgment Processes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Vol. 83. No. 1. P. 198. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.83.1.198.
Seligman M. (2011) Flourish. A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
Sheldon K. (2016) Putting Eudaimonia in its Place: On the Predictor, No the Outcome, Side of the Equation. In: Vittersø J. (ed.) Handbook of Eudaimonic Well-Being. Cham: Springer. P. 531—541. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42445-3_36.
Smith A. (1982) The Theory of Moral Sentiments. Indianapolis, IN: Liberty Fund.
Stiglitz J. E., Sen A., Fitoussi J. P. (2009) Report by the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress. Paris: Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress.
Ul Haq M. (1995). Reflections on Human Development. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Vanhoutte B., Nazroo J. (2014). Cognitive, Affective and Eudemonic Well-Being in Later Life: Measurement Equivalence over Gender and Life Stage. Sociological Research Online. Vol. 19. No. 2. P. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.5153/sro.32.
Veenhoven R. (1991) Is Happiness Relative? Social Indicators Research. Vol. 24. P. 1-34. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292648.
Waterman A. S. (1993) Two Conceptions of Happiness: Contrasts of Personal Expressiveness (Eudaimonia) and Hedonic Enjoyment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Vol. 64. No. 4. P. 678—691. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.64.4.678.
Zembylas M. (2020) Emotional Capital and Education: Theoretical insights from Bourdieu. In: Reay, D (ed.) Bourdieu and Education. London: Routledge. P. 41-61. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429445163.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
