Subjective well-being
Subjective well-being refers to an individual’s perception of instinctive reactions and cognitive judgments. It is an important factor in defining a person’s quality of life. Physical health, mental health, work, IQ, religion and race, ethnicity, and stigma can all be used to decide an individual’s life. The paper will investigate the relationship between subjective well-being and all of the characteristics stated.
Subjective well-being can affect an individual’s physical health through interfering with his or her health behaviors, cardiovascular systems, and immune system. Although various studies are done to explore and determine how happiness affects the physical health of a person, it is no doubt that happiness is one of the great influencers of one’s physical health (Baumgardner and Crothers, 2009).
Subjective well-being and mental health
People with good mental health tend to have excellent subjective well-being as opposed to those with bad mental health. According to Baumgardner and Crothers (2009), a person’s mental health rating is strongly linked with subjective well-being. In other words, mental health of a person shapes his/her subjective well-being positively or negatively. Individuals are required to be optimistic and positive because it leads to longer healthier life than pessimistic and negative people who experience weak morality and health status.
Subjective well-being and work
The connection between subjective well-being and work is stable because one’s well-being influences his/her performance at work and how that person relates with the employer and his colleagues. The experience people encounter at work, or home acts as a determinant of their well-being and performance as a whole. The interaction between individuals and things at work that makes them feel confident is a good sign of boosting their well-being both at home and work. Adverse working conditions and poor performance causes poor subjective well-being of a person which decreases his scorecard and with time this person is likely to lose his/her job because of underperformance at work.
Relationship of subjective well-being and intelligence
Your intelligence will determine whether your life will have a positive outcome which in turn, brings better subjective well-being. The majority of studies conducted are mandated to answer a question whether mindful and subjective well-being is mediated with what termed as emotional intelligence. Baumgardner and Crothers, (2009) says that higher levels of intelligence bring positive effects and satisfaction in life while lower levels of intelligence cause dissatisfaction and negative impacts in one’s life.
Subjective well-being and religion
Religion is a pursuit where one ascribes to supreme importance. How is religion related to subjective well-being? A person’s religion strength plays a vital role in determining his well-being and how well he/she relates to his spiritual world or self. From the beginning of time, religion has always played a positive role in subjective well-being directly and substantial. People with strong religious beliefs have high-levels of life expectations such as happiness. Nondenominational followers have like Mormons, and Jehovah Witness are said to have high life satisfaction.
Subjective well-being and race, ethnicity and stigma
The social role played by a person benefits from the subjective well-being of a person. However, the study on this matter was carried out on white people. According to the same study but on black people, the race is the great influence of their well-being on the social role. According to this study, both black and white have equal experience, but their well-being varies in race and gender to some point.
There is no big difference between race and ethnicity, but we cannot ignore their difference when it comes to subjective well-being. It is clear that a social group with a better subjective well-being in every person helps to increase effects of a positive well-being. Individuals with positive levels of well-being influence others to adopt theirs because they admire their happiness and satisfaction.
Stigma is the most powerful tool that impacts the well-being and lifestyle of a person because it shapes how society views you and this affects your subjective well-being. If the society sees you positively, there is a likelihood that your subjective well-being will be positive, but if they stigmatize you, you will have an adverse well-being effect.
Reference
Baumgardner, S. R., & Crothers, M. K. (2009). Positive Psychology. Chapter 7 “Defining
Personal Goals”.Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.
