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From well-being to positive mental health: conceptualization and qualitative development of an instrument in Singapore

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An Erratum to this article was published on 03 April 2012

Abstract

Purpose

There is no global definition of well-being. Cultural differences in the perception of well-being and the social and behavioral contexts further limit its measurement. Existing instruments are developed in Western societies that differ in their conceptualization of well-being from Asian populations. Moreover, very few instruments address the multidimensional construct of well-being.

Methods

Literature was reviewed to develop a priori conceptual framework of mental health and well-being. Concepts were identified based on specific criteria to guide the qualitative investigations. Finally, focus group discussions were conducted among adults belonging to the three major ethnicities in Singapore to identify salient domains of mental health and well-being.

Results

Mental well-being is a multidimensional construct constituting of positive affect, satisfaction, and psychological functioning. While well-being explains the functional and psychological components, positive mental health is a combination of these and the skills required to achieve them. Although there is an overlap between the concepts identified from the literature and those identified in Singapore, certain differences existed, particularly with the relevance attributed to family interactions and religiosity or spirituality. Similar findings were observed across the three ethnic groups.

Conclusion

Domains identified can be used to develop a culturally relevant instrument in Singapore.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Singapore Millennium Foundation and the Ministry of Health, Singapore. We also like to thank the focus group participants for their valuable inputs in the development of the PMH instrument in Singapore.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Woodbridge Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    Janhavi Ajit Vaingankar, Mythily Subramaiam, Amy Phua, Shazana Shahwan & Siow Ann Chong

  2. RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA

    Yee Wei Lim, Cathy Sherbourne, Gery Ryan, Julie Brown, Melissa Bradley & Maria Orlando Edelen

  3. School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Kian Woon Kwok

  4. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Nan Luo

Authors
  1. Janhavi Ajit Vaingankar
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  2. Mythily Subramaiam
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  3. Yee Wei Lim
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  4. Cathy Sherbourne
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  5. Nan Luo
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  6. Gery Ryan
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  7. Amy Phua
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  8. Shazana Shahwan
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  9. Kian Woon Kwok
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  10. Julie Brown
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  11. Melissa Bradley
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  12. Maria Orlando Edelen
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  13. Siow Ann Chong
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Correspondence to Janhavi Ajit Vaingankar.

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Vaingankar, J.A., Subramaiam, M., Lim, Y.W. et al. From well-being to positive mental health: conceptualization and qualitative development of an instrument in Singapore. Qual Life Res 21, 1785–1794 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-0105-3

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