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Introduction: Looking at Quality of Life and Well-Being from a Positive Psychology Perspective

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A Positive Psychology Perspective on Quality of Life

Part of the book series: Social Indicators Research Series ((SINS,volume 51))

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Abstract

This book is bringing together research and theory on quality of life (QoL) and subjective well-being (SWB) that integrates notions from positive psychology. Both hedonic and eudaimonic aspects of SWB are discussed, and the impact of character strengths and virtues such as religiosity, interest, engagement, resilience, wisdom, hope, optimism, gratefulness, and altruism is highlighted. The emphasis of this book is on the mechanisms that underlie the effects of various factors (including human strengths and virtues) on QoL or SWB. The contribution of motives (needs, goals) and planning to self-regulation and SWB as well as the constraints by biological factors are also pointed out. The importance of social relations and social environment is stressed, and cross-cultural evidence is evoked to reveal the effects of social factors on well-being. The various chapters focus on different indicators of QoL or SWB and examine situations ranging from physical and mental health problems to marital satisfaction, lifespan development, economic life, or school life. The authors of the book chapters present not only new ideas and new empirical research evidence supporting the claim that positive psychological qualities have beneficial effects on well-being but also evidence that calls for a more critical stance toward such claims.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Anastasia Efklides & Despina Moraitou

Authors
  1. Anastasia Efklides
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  2. Despina Moraitou
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Correspondence to Anastasia Efklides .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Aristotle Univ. of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 541 24, Greece

    Anastasia Efklides

  2. , School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki,, 541 24, Greece

    Despina Moraitou

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Efklides, A., Moraitou, D. (2012). Introduction: Looking at Quality of Life and Well-Being from a Positive Psychology Perspective. In: Efklides, A., Moraitou, D. (eds) A Positive Psychology Perspective on Quality of Life. Social Indicators Research Series, vol 51. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4963-4_1

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