Abstract
This paper presents evidence for regarding well-being and ill-being as distinct, although not orthogonal dimensions. It is suggested that well-being and ill-being may be like measures of quantitative and verbal ability in intelligence tests. For some purposes (e.g. for admitting students to particular courses of study) it may be sensible to use only one of the measures. For other purposes a combined measure-I.Q.-is appropriate. In this study we employ Indices of Well-Being and Ill-Being and a combined measure, Balance of Well-Being and Ill-Being.
Using data from the first wave (1981) of an Australian panel study (N=942), four measures of well-being and three measures of ill-being were factor analysed, confirming the existence of distinct dimensions. The value of the distinctions was underlined by findings indicating that well-being and ill-being have different correlates and causes. Wellbeing depends more than ill-being on the personality traits of extraversion and optimism, and also on the existence of supportive social networks. Ill-being is more strongly related to SES, poor health and low scoring on the trait “personal competence”,. Overall, however, it was found that more variance can be accounted for in the Balance of Well-Being and Ill-Being Index than in the separate indices of Well-Being and Ill-Being.
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For their advice and comments we would like to thank Frank M. Andrews of the University of Michigan, Colin Benjamin of the Department of Employment and Training, Victoria, Johnathan Kelley of Australian National University, Melvin L. Kohn of the National Institute of Mental Health, Washington D.C., Michele Levine of the University of Melbourne, Susan Payne of the University of Queensland and Willard L. Rodgers and Lois Verbrugge of the University of Michigan. Our thanks are also due to the following institutions for research support: The Australian Research Grants Scheme, the Department of Community Welfare Services, Victoria and the University of Melbourne.
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Headey, B., Holmström, E. & Wearing, A. Well-being and ill-being: Different dimensions?. Soc Indic Res 14, 115–139 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00293406
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00293406