EDC Unit I

Well-Being:
Meaning & Definition:
Well-being is a holistic state of being comfortable, healthy, and happy. It
encompasses more than just physical health—it includes emotional, mental,
social, spiritual, and intellectual dimensions that contribute to a person’s overall
life satisfaction and functioning.
It is not merely the absence of illness or stress, but the presence of positive
emotions, purpose, relationships, and personal growth.
Goals of Well-Being:
• To achieve a balanced life.
• To maintain a healthy body and mind.
• To foster positive relationships.
• To find meaning and purpose in daily life.
• To grow intellectually and spiritually.
• To develop resilience against stress and challenges.
Types of Well-Being
1. Physical Well-Being
• Involves taking care of your body.
• Includes regular exercise, proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and medical
care.
• Prevents disease and promotes longevity.
2. Emotional Well-Being
• Understanding, expressing, and managing emotions effectively.
• Cultivates resilience, self-esteem, and a positive outlook.
• Helps in coping with life’s ups and downs.
3. Social Well-Being
• Involves forming healthy, nurturing, and supportive relationships.
• Encourages communication, empathy, and a sense of belonging.
• Builds strong connections with family, friends, and community.
4. Spiritual Well-Being
• Finding meaning, value, and purpose in life.
• May involve religion, personal beliefs, or connection with nature.
• Promotes inner peace and ethical living.
5. Intellectual Well-Being
• Engaging in creative and stimulating activities that expand knowledge and
skills.
• Encourages lifelong learning, problem-solving, and curiosity.
• Keeps the mind sharp and active.
The 7 C's of Well-Being
These are core elements or principles that support overall well-being:
1. Connection
Building positive relationships and feeling a sense of belonging.
2. Contribution
Giving back, helping others, and making a difference in the world.
 3. Character
Living with integrity, honesty, and aligning actions with values.
4. Confidence
Believing in oneself and one’s abilities.
5. Coping
Managing stress effectively and developing resilience.
6. Creativity
Expressing oneself, exploring ideas, and thinking outside the box.
7. Competence
Developing skills and achieving goals through learning and effort.
Biological, social and psychological factors influence health and illness:
Health and illness are influenced by a complex interplay of biological, social, and
psychological factors. This concept is known as the biopsychosocial model,
which emphasizes that health is not determined by biology alone, but also by
psychological state and social environment.
1. Biological Factors
These refer to the physical and genetic aspects that influence health:
• Genetics: Hereditary traits can predispose individuals to certain illnesses
(e.g., diabetes, heart disease, cancer).
• Age & Gender: Different stages of life and biological sex can affect
disease risk and health needs.
• Immune System Function: A strong immune system defends against
infection, while a weakened one increases vulnerability.
• Hormonal Imbalances: Can impact physical and mental health (e.g.,
thyroid disorders, menopause).
• Brain Chemistry: Imbalances in neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin,
dopamine) can influence mental health conditions like depression or
anxiety.
2. Psychological Factors
These involve thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and mental health:
• Stress & Coping Skills: Chronic stress can weaken the immune system
and increase risk of illness.
• Personality Traits: Traits like optimism, resilience, or hostility can
influence health outcomes.
• Mental Health Conditions: Anxiety, depression, or trauma can negatively
affect both mental and physical health.
• Health Behaviors: Motivation, self-discipline, and beliefs about health
influence habits like diet, exercise, and medication adherence.
3. Social Factors
These include socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental influences:
• Socioeconomic Status (SES): Income, education, and occupation affect
access to healthcare and healthy living conditions.
• Cultural Beliefs and Practices: Influence attitudes toward health, illness,
and treatment.
• Social Support: Strong relationships improve mental health and encourage
healthy behaviors.
 • Living Conditions: Safe housing, clean water, and a healthy environment
reduce illness risks.
• Access to Healthcare: Availability of and access to quality care
significantly impacts health outcomes.
• Education: Health literacy affects the ability to understand health
information and make informed decisions.
Factor Examples
Biological Genes, hormones, immune system, brain chemistry
Psychological Stress, emotions, coping skills, mental health, beliefs
Culture, family, education, income, environment, healthcare
Social
access
These factors interact dynamically. For instance:
• Chronic stress (psychological) can lead to high blood pressure (biological),
especially if the person lacks social support (social).

Happiness: Meaning and Concepts

Meaning of Happiness:
Happiness is a positive emotional state characterized by feelings of joy,
satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment. It goes beyond fleeting pleasure—it's
about living a meaningful and satisfying life.
Types of Happiness
1. Hedonic Happiness (Pleasure-Oriented)
• Focuses on immediate gratification and pleasure.
• Involves enjoyment, fun, and comfort.
• Associated with positive emotions and the absence of pain.
2. Eudemonic Happiness (Meaning-Oriented)
• Rooted in Aristotle’s philosophy of living a virtuous and purposeful life.
• Involves personal growth, self-actualization, and contributing to
others.
• Long-term fulfillment rather than short-term pleasure.
Example: Eating a delicious dessert = Hedonic; Volunteering and feeling
purposeful = Eudemonic
Happiness Across the Lifespan
• Children: Tend to experience more frequent joy and curiosity; influenced
by family and play.
• Adolescents: Happiness becomes tied to peer relationships, identity, and
achievement.
• Young Adults: Career, relationships, and autonomy become central.
• Middle Age: Often sees a dip in happiness (the "U-curve") due to life
stressors.
• Older Adults: Happiness often rebounds; focus shifts to meaningful
relationships and gratitude.
Research shows happiness can increase in older age despite health decline—
due to emotional regulation and life perspective.
Gender and Happiness
• Women often report more intense emotions (both positive and negative).
• Men may report higher levels of life satisfaction depending on context.
• Gender roles, societal expectations, and life circumstances influence these
patterns.
Marriage and Happiness
• Married individuals generally report higher happiness levels than single
individuals.
• Quality matters more than status: Happy marriages boost well-being,
while conflictual ones can decrease it.
• Marriage offers emotional support, financial stability, and social
integration.
Culture and Happiness
• Individualistic cultures (e.g., U.S., Western Europe): Value personal
achievement and self-expression.
• Collectivist cultures (e.g., East Asia, Latin America): Value social
harmony, family, and community.
• Cultural values influence how happiness is defined, expressed, and
pursued.
✨ In Japan, happiness may be linked to fulfilling social roles; in the U.S., it’s
more often linked to personal success.
Global Measure of Happiness
World Happiness Report
• An annual report by the United Nations Sustainable Development
Solutions Network.
• Ranks countries based on:
o GDP per capita
o Social support
o Healthy life expectancy
o Freedom to make life choices
o Generosity
o Perceptions of corruption
• Top-ranking countries often include Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, and
Iceland.
Recently, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network released the
World Happiness Report 2023 which ranks countries on happiness.
What is World Happiness Report?
▪ Since 2012, the World Happiness Report has been released annually
around March 20th as part of the International Day of Happiness
celebration.
▪ The report ranks global happiness basis survey data from people in over
150 countries.
▪ This year, the report ranked 136 countries.
▪ The ranking uses six key factors to measure happiness — social support,
income, health, freedom, generosity, and absence of corruption.
▪ Besides ranking the countries, the report also looks at the state of the world
in 2023.
What about the Performance of the Countries?
▪ Top Performers:
o For the sixth year in a row, Finland has been crowned as the happiest
nation, Denmark is at number two, followed by Iceland at number
three.
o Unlike previous years, where the same countries tend to appear in the
top 20, there’s a new entrant this year — Lithuania (at the 20th spot).
▪ Worst Performers:
o Afghanistan was ranked as the unhappiest nation, followed by
Lebanon, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, respectively.
▪ India’s Performance:
th
o India ranks at 126 position out of 136 countries, making it one of
the least happy countries in the world.
th
• In 2022, India ranked 136 position out of 146 countries.
o It even lags behind its neighbouring nations like Nepal, China,
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
What is Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)?
▪ In 2012, the UN SDSN was launched under the auspices of the UN
Secretary-General.
▪ SDSN promotes integrated approaches to implement the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change,
through education, research, policy analysis, and global cooperation.

Summary Table
Aspect Description
Hedonic Happiness Based on pleasure and enjoyment
Eudemonic
Based on meaning, purpose, and personal growth
Happiness
Lifespan Peaks and dips across different life stages
Gender Varies by emotion intensity and societal role
Marriage Can boost happiness, especially if high-quality
Culture Influences values and perceptions of happiness
World Happiness Report ranks based on life quality
Global Measure
indicators