A theory of public wellbeing
Abstract Background Wellbeing is seen as a matter of concern for governments and public policy. However, current theories on wellbeing are not well placed to inform this concern, because they fail to take account of and explain evidence on social determinants of mental health. Discussion This articl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-7626-z |
| _version_ | 1818340534444359680 |
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| author | Matthew Fisher |
| author_facet | Matthew Fisher |
| author_sort | Matthew Fisher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Wellbeing is seen as a matter of concern for governments and public policy. However, current theories on wellbeing are not well placed to inform this concern, because they fail to take account of and explain evidence on social determinants of mental health. Discussion This article proposes a new theory of public wellbeing which does takes account of such evidence, by explaining the role of stress within three basic functions of social cognition. Building on this description, the article then proposes that wellbeing consists in seven basic abilities, which are always developed and exercised (or not) through constant processes of interaction between individual and environment. The article explains why contemporary theories on wellbeing are poorly placed to inform public policy for wellbeing. It also positions the proposed theory in relation to evidence on social determinants of health (SDH) and the associated public policy agenda. It is argued the proposed theory of wellbeing extends on and challenges the SDH policy agenda in relation to the normative target of policy proposals, factors identified as determinants, impacts of determinants on populations, and proposals for political and social change. Conclusion Improved theory on public wellbeing can inform policy for wellbeing because it explains the contingent nature of wellbeing within contemporary social environments, and extends understanding of social determinants of wellbeing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T15:44:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d194f9e57ee5412fb26039a863217da5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T15:44:26Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d194f9e57ee5412fb26039a863217da52022-12-21T23:39:45ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582019-10-0119111210.1186/s12889-019-7626-zA theory of public wellbeingMatthew Fisher0Southgate Institute for Health, Society & Equity, Flinders UniversityAbstract Background Wellbeing is seen as a matter of concern for governments and public policy. However, current theories on wellbeing are not well placed to inform this concern, because they fail to take account of and explain evidence on social determinants of mental health. Discussion This article proposes a new theory of public wellbeing which does takes account of such evidence, by explaining the role of stress within three basic functions of social cognition. Building on this description, the article then proposes that wellbeing consists in seven basic abilities, which are always developed and exercised (or not) through constant processes of interaction between individual and environment. The article explains why contemporary theories on wellbeing are poorly placed to inform public policy for wellbeing. It also positions the proposed theory in relation to evidence on social determinants of health (SDH) and the associated public policy agenda. It is argued the proposed theory of wellbeing extends on and challenges the SDH policy agenda in relation to the normative target of policy proposals, factors identified as determinants, impacts of determinants on populations, and proposals for political and social change. Conclusion Improved theory on public wellbeing can inform policy for wellbeing because it explains the contingent nature of wellbeing within contemporary social environments, and extends understanding of social determinants of wellbeing.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-7626-zWellbeingStressSocial cognitionPublic policySocial determinants of mental health |
| spellingShingle | Matthew Fisher A theory of public wellbeing BMC Public Health Wellbeing Stress Social cognition Public policy Social determinants of mental health |
| title | A theory of public wellbeing |
| title_full | A theory of public wellbeing |
| title_fullStr | A theory of public wellbeing |
| title_full_unstemmed | A theory of public wellbeing |
| title_short | A theory of public wellbeing |
| title_sort | theory of public wellbeing |
| topic | Wellbeing Stress Social cognition Public policy Social determinants of mental health |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-7626-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT matthewfisher atheoryofpublicwellbeing AT matthewfisher theoryofpublicwellbeing |