University of Twente Student Theses
The Manifestation of Flourishing Mental Health in Societal Behaviours
Feldmann, Anika (2019) The Manifestation of Flourishing Mental Health in Societal Behaviours.
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| Abstract: | Research in the field of positive psychology is growing, often focussing on the positive mental health state of flourishing, where a person is filled with positive emotions and is functioning well psychologically and socially. The aim of the current study was to identify daily behaviours of flourishers in a societal context, using a mixed method approach of combining qualitative and quantitative analyses. Findings were compared between flourishers who are socially functioning well and non-flourishers who are not functioning well. The coding process of written narratives of European laypersons (N = 30) revealed that societal behaviours of flourishers comprised day-to-day behaviours leading to positive feelings initiated by the four dimensions of social well-being of social acceptance, social contribution, social integration and social coherence, explained by Keyes (1998). However, behaviours relating to the fifth dimension of social actualisation were not found. Differences in descriptions of the behavioural manifestation of flourishing in life between flourishers who are socially functioning well and non-flourishers who are not socially functioning well were not affirmed as well. Findings suggest that when the fundamental characteristics of accepting and appreciating others are given, flourishers are enabled to conduct many societal behaviours as connecting and working together with other people, helping to enhance the well-being of others and society, and exploring the operation of the social world by getting to know new communities and cultures. Activating such behaviours appears to create a promising route to increase well-being and could be integrated into social support interventions. More practical research is needed in different cultural communities to identify pathways for increasing flourishing among the world population. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology BSc (56604) |
| Awards: | Positive psychology, Flourishing, Social well-being, Societal behaviours, Social support interventions |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/78455 |
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