What is wellbeing and how do we measure and evaluate it?

Louise Baxter, Karen Burnell

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Published conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    Abstract

    Wellbeing has many differing definitions, facets, concepts, and dimensions. It can mean different things to different audiences. While the lay term wellbeing may be considered to mean feeling happy and positive, psychologists may argue that the concept also comprises life satisfaction, purposefulness, and meaning, while in the health context, wellbeing may be considered the absence of symptoms of psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression. This lays the foundations for difficulty in how we communicate about wellbeing and how we measure and evaluate it, but we must if we are to build an evidence base for heritage interventions that can be used by service commissioners, providers, and policy makers. This chapter provides an overview of the theoretical foundations of wellbeing, as well as discussing what is meant by mental health, and explains the ways in which wellbeing can be quantified and measured, as well as discussing ways in which we may evaluate wellbeing through qualitative methods.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationArchaeology, Heritage, and Wellbeing
    Subtitle of host publicationAuthentic, Powerful, and Therapeutic Engagement with the Past
    EditorsPaul Everill, Karen Burnell
    PublisherRoutledge
    Chapter1
    Pages7-25
    Number of pages19
    ISBN (Electronic)9781003182184
    ISBN (Print)9781032021652
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2 Jun 2022

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