If, Why, and When Subjective Well‐Being Influences Health, and Future Needed Research

Abstract

We review evidence on whether subjective well-being (SWB) can influence health, why it might do so, and what we know about the conditions where this is more or less likely to occur. This review also explores how various methodological approaches inform the study of the connections between subjective well-being and health and longevity outcomes. Our review of this growing literature indicates areas where data are substantial and where much more research is needed. We conclude that SWB can sometimes influence health, and review a number of reasons why it does so. A key open question is when it does and does not do so-in terms of populations likely to be affected, types of SWB that are most influential (including which might be harmful), and types of health and illnesses that are most likely to be affected. We also describe additional types of research that are now much needed in this burgeoning area of interest, for example, cross-cultural studies, animal research, and experimental interventions designed to raise long-term SWB and assess the effects on physical health. This research area is characterised both by potentially extremely important findings, and also by pivotal research issues and questions.

Subjective Well‐Being and Health Behaviors in 2.5 Million Americans

“…As the negative effects of ill-being on health have been well established (e.g. Suls & Bunde, 2005), our pattern of findings is somewhat surprising (Diener et al, 2017). Our findings are consistent, however, with meta-analytic findings showing that well-being promotes health independently of the detrimental effects of ill-being on health (Howell et al, 2007).…”

“…Third, while past research has suggested a causal role of well-being in health and health behavior (for review, see Diener et al, 2017), another limitation of the present study is that its cross-sectional nature precludes us from making claims of causality. As previous research has suggested reciprocal effects of health and well-being (e.g.…”

“…Indeed, several longitudinal studies have shown that those with greater well-being at baseline engage in more exercise over time (Kim, Kubzansky, Soo, & Boehm, 2017) and show slower declines in fruit and vegetable consumption over time (Boehm et al, 2018). However, this growing literature on the link between happiness and health behaviors has raised almost as many questions as it has answered (Diener et al, 2017).…”

“…feeling good vs. bad), thereby not distinguishing between PA and NA (Diener et al, 2017) and conflating the distinct effects of well-being and ill-being identified in the broader literature on well-being and health (Howell et al, 2007). The role of PA, in particular, has so far received the least support in the literature (Diener et al, 2017). However, the studies that have examined positive and negative affect as separate components suggest that those with more PA have better health, above and beyond the consequences of NA (Pressman, Jenkins, & Moskowitz, 2019).…”

Social Dominance and Attitude towards Immigrants: The Key Role of Happiness

“…It could be considered one of the main sources of wellbeing (e.g., Diener and Biswas-Diener 2002). Indeed, several studies have pointed out that individuals' happiness is related to several achievements in life such as marriage, a comfortable income, career success, a long life, life satisfaction, reduced job stress, and good mental health (e.g., Diener et al 2017;Mastekaasa 1994;Diener and Biswas-Diener 2002;Naseem 2018;Clark et al 2018;Jebb et al 2018;Walsh et al 2018). With respect to the aim of this study, several authors have shown an association between happiness and different prosocial behavior outcomes such as volunteering, charity donations, and helping others (e.g., Aknin et al 2018;Appau and Churchill 2018;Dunn et al 2008;Post 2005;Thoits and Hewitt 2001).…”