IPPA WC 2023 What Have We Learned About Building Blocks of Well-Being & Positive Functioning?: Empirical Findings and Practical Evidence-Based Applications (#99)
After an extensive examination of the empirical evidence generated during the first decade of positive psychology, Seligman (2011) developed a framework for the routes or building blocks to consider when one wants to develop and manage well-being. He called this new framework PERMA, and argued that well-being can be actively developed through pursuing five measurable building blocks (positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement). Donaldson (2019) and Donaldson et al. (2020) conducted an extensive systematic literature review, meta-analysis, and a range of qualitative assessments in order to determine if and how the framework could be extended, making it especially relevant for work-related contexts and for individuals living in challenging environments (e.g., poor physical and psychosocial conditions with challenges of inequity and poverty). Their main aim was to determine which additional elements seemed likely to contribute to well-being and positive functioning over and above the original five elements, and they discovered four additional building blocks (physical health, mindset, environment, and economic security). A wide range of empirical studies have now been conducted to understand the PERMA and PERMA+4 building blocks, and practical evidence-based tools and interventions have been developed. The main purpose of this presentation will be to summarize the empirical findings of this growing body of research, and illustrate ways practitioners can build PERMA+4, well-being, and positive functioning for diverse participants across a wide range of settings.
- Please select up to 3 keywords from the following list to best describe your submission content:
