The Hierarchical Framework of Well-being (HiFWB)

David J Disabato ^1* Fallon R Goodman ² Todd B Kashdan ³

• ¹ Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, United States
• ² George Washington University, Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States
• ³ George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States

Purpose: Several decades of research on well-being has resulted in a variety of conceptual models used to measure well-being. The historical motivations behind these conceptual models have emphasized their differences to the point of clouding the well-being measurement landscape. A synthesis of the well-being literature is needed to move the field forward and guide future research. Methods: In this review, we synthesize literature on the measurement of well-being from the past 50 years and present The Hierarchical Framework of Well-being (HiFWB) that organizes multiple prior models. Results: We propose a general factor of well-being (i.e., “h” factor) at the top level of the hierarchy analogous to “g” in the intelligence literature and “p” in the psychopathology literature. Building off Diener’s (1984) initial conceptualizations, we define general well-being as “the experience of personally valued fulfillment within one’s life”. We detail the theoretical rationale and empirical evidence behind four hierarchical levels: general (i.e., “h” factor), lenses (e.g., subjective well-being), contents (e.g., affects), and characteristics (e.g., positive affect). Example well-being constructs are proposed for each level of HiFWB while emphasizing the hierarchical structure is prioritized above any (arbitrary) list of constructs. We discuss various approaches to distinguishing predictors of well-being from well-being itself (i.e., preventing tautologies) and how they fit into our framework. Considering the bulk of the empirical evidence comes from Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic (WEIRD) cultures, constraints on generalizability are important. Throughout, we compare and contrast HiFWB to other hierarchical structures in psychological science (e.g., five factor model of personality). Conclusion: The HiFWB is a flexible, encompassing, evidence-based framework for well-being conceptualization and measurement in WEIRD populations.