This article reviews research and interventions that have grown up around a model of psychological well-being generated more than two decades ago to address neglected aspects of positive functioning such as purposeful engagement in life, realization of personal talents and capacities, and enlightened self-knowledge. The conceptual origins of this formulation are revisited and scientific products emerging from 6 thematic areas are examined: (1) how well-being changes across adult development and later life; (2) what are the personality correlates of well-being; (3) how well-being is linked with experiences in family life; (4) how well-being relates to work and other community activities; (5) what are the connections between well-being and health, including biological risk factors, and (6) via clinical and intervention studies, how psychological well-being can be promoted for ever-greater segments of society. Together, these topics illustrate flourishing interest across diverse scientific disciplines in understanding adults as striving, meaning-making, proactive organisms who are actively negotiating the challenges of life. A take-home message is that increasing evidence supports the health protective features of psychological well-being in reducing risk for disease and promoting length of life. A recurrent and increasingly important theme is resilience - the capacity to maintain or regain well-being in the face of adversity. Implications for future research and practice are considered.

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Psychological well-being revisited: advances in the science and practice of eudaimonia.

The Seasons of a Man’s Life

Interpersonal relations — a theory of interdependence

Ordinary Magic: Resilience Processes in Development

In this article, we review theoretical and empirical advances in research on romantic relationships between age 10 and the early twenties. First, we describe key themes in this area of research. Next, we briefly characterize the most influential theoretical formulations and distinctive methodological issues. We then describe research findings regarding pertinent social and developmental processes. We summarize the extensive findings on relationships with parents and peers as a context for romantic relationships. Finally, we characterize the growing evidence that adolescent romantic relationships are significant for individual adjustment and development, and we note promising directions for further research.

Adolescent Romantic Relationships

The association of marital satisfaction with parenting burden and quality of the parent– child relationship was examined in 91 married mothers and fathers of co-residing adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders. Within-couple differences between mothers and fathers in how child characteristics related to these parenting experiences were also evaluated. Multilevel modeling was used to control for the dependency in couple data. Marital satisfaction was an important predictor of parenting experiences, particularly for fathers. Mothers reported feeling closer to their son or daughter than did fathers. Fathers’ parenting experiences were more strongly impacted by child characteristics than were mothers’ parenting experiences. Results emphasized the connection between the marital relationship and parenting experiences and overlapping but unique experiences of mothers and fathers.

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Marital Satisfaction and Parenting Experiences of Mothers and Fathers of Adolescents and Adults With Autism

This study examines the long-term effects of child death on bereaved parents' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, we compared 233 bereaved couples and 229 comparison couples (mean age = 65.11 years) and examined the life course effects of child death on parents' HRQoL. Variations in bereavement effects were examined by gender and for different causes of death. Bereaved parents had significantly worse HRQoL than comparison group parents, and there was no evidence of gender differences for this effect. With respect to the cause of a child's death, bereaved parents whose child died in violent circumstances had particularly low levels of HRQoL. Multilevel models indicated that marital closeness mitigated the negative effects of bereavement.

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Long-term Effects of Child Death on Parents' Health Related Quality of Life: A Dyadic Analysis.

This study examined how accommodative coping via flexible goal adjustment affects the wellbeing of midlife parents. Using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, a population-based study of midlife adults, the authors compared parents who have a child with a severe mental health problem, a child with a developmental disability, or a child with no chronic illness or disability. Overall, parents had better well-being (i.e., lower levels of depressive and physical symptoms, higher levels of environmental mastery and self-acceptance) if they used accommodative coping. This effect was stronger for parents of individuals with a severe mental health problem than for the comparison group.

Accommodative coping and well-being of midlife parents of children with mental health problems or developmental disabilities

We identified 201 individuals who obtained IQs of 85 or below in high school and participated in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (a prospective longitudinal study that followed sample members from age 18 through age 53). Their life course development was contrasted with their siblings who obtained IQs above 100. Life course outcomes were assessed in five domains: Education and Occupational Attainment, Family Formation, Social Participation and Support, Physical Health, and Psychological Well-Being. Compared to their higher IQ sibling, low-IQ individuals completed less schooling, had less prestigious occupations, rated themselves less physically healthy, and reported lower levels of psychological well-being. Differences were not evident, however, in patterns of family formation, social support, job satisfaction, or objective measures of physical health.

Frank J. Floyd

Papers

Marital Satisfaction and Parenting Experiences of Mothers and Fathers of Adolescents and Adults With Autism

Long-term Effects of Child Death on Parents' Health Related Quality of Life: A Dyadic Analysis.

Accommodative coping and well-being of midlife parents of children with mental health problems or developmental disabilities

Life course impacts of mild intellectual deficits.

Quality of Life and Subjective Well‐Being: Conceptual and Measurement Issues