Well-being Constructs Research Articles

Psychological well-being is aligned to the ethical theory of flourishing

Flourishing, an ethical theory founded in Stoic philosophy, centers around emotional control and learning how to live well. It connects strongly with the modern construct of psychological well-being (PWB). PWB programs are increasingly included in workplaces and factors contributing to their success can include individual motivations, accountability and responsibility, organizational support systems and design, and an understanding of mental health conditions. Anxiety, the most commonly experienced mental health condition, is an emotional state that can directly affect PWB, yet it is often neglected in research, as is the concept of who is responsible for PWB. This paper outlines a study to test the hypotheses that: emotional states can affect PWB: emotion can be considered an ethical construct; improving PWB benefits both individuals and organizations and that shared responsibility can optimize organizational PWB program outcomes. Existing information was gathered from a systematic literature review and new information was gathered from a study conducted with the Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS). Mixed method research incorporated quantitative and qualitative data collection, testing occupational health and safety (OHS) practitioners’ views on anxiety, and perceptions of factors affecting success or failure of PWB programs.Findings included strong indications that: anxiety can affect PWB and impact performance and productivity; shared responsibility between employees and organizations may improve the outcomes for PWB programs; information and education around self-care, and motivational principles connected to virtue ethics can all assist individuals and organizations to assume responsibility for their role with PWB initiatives.

Are Financial Well-Being and Financial Stress the Same Construct? Insights from an Intensive Longitudinal Study

Since the 2008 economic crisis, research on financial well-being has grown exponentially. Most of the studies have investigated the predictors of financial well-being, but there is still no consensus on the conceptualization of financial well-being itself. As of yet, little is known about the relationship between subjective financial well-being and subjective financial stress. Some scholars believe those two constructs are two sides of the same coin, while others consider them to be two different phenomena. The current study aims to contribute to disentangling the construct of financial well-being from the construct of financial stress. We conducted an intensive longitudinal study, collecting data for 14 consecutive days from 158 emerging adults. Participants had to report their level of financial well-being and financial stress each evening. Findings suggest that the two constructs are not coincident for the following reasons: they exhibit low-to-moderate associations at both the within- and between-level and they were not similarly affected by the same predictors. Furthermore, we showed that subjective financial well-being and subjective financial stress fluctuate considerably from one day to the next. Further research is needed to determine the source of this daily variability.

Longitudinal association between self-compassion and intuitive eating: Testing emotion regulation and body image flexibility as mediating variables.

Growing evidence suggests that intuitive eating is associated with numerous positive mental health and well-being constructs. Understanding factors that predict intuitive eating is necessary for identifying practical targets to enhance this style of eating, yet research identifying such predictors is scarce. Self-compassion is one variable that could enhance intuitive eating because it involves the practice of healthy emotion regulation skills that may disrupt the tendency to turn to food to cope during distressing situations. The present study tested for a longitudinal association between self-compassion and intuitive eating. We also tested whether this association was mediated by indices of emotion regulation (i.e., global emotion regulation skill scores and body image flexibility). Adult women (n = 3039) were invited to completed study measures at baseline (T1), 4-month follow-up (T2), and 8-month follow-up (T3). Path analyses were computed to test hypothesized indirect effects. A direct path from T1 self-compassion to T3 intuitive eating emerged, such that higher self-compassion levels predicted increased intuitive eating over time. However, this association was not mediated by T2 emotion regulation skills nor body image flexibility. Findings suggest that self-compassion may facilitate an intuitive eating style, which does not appear to be explained by certain emotion regulation skills.

Wellbeing Amid Digital Risks: Implications of Digital Risks, Threats, and Scams on Users’ Wellbeing

This study investigates how users perceive their wellbeing amid the risks associated with digital media use in Norway. According to the literature, some of these risks include digital dependence, online privacy, scams, thefts, information misuse, and harassment. To expand knowledge on how these and other digital risks are construed by users, this study addresses the following research questions: What implications do digital risks have on users’ perceived sense of wellbeing? What are the solutions proposed by users to manage these risks? Methodologically, the inquiry is led through a qualitative approach comprising 17 semi-structured in-depth interviews of university students in Norway. The investigation centers on<strong> </strong>an interpretative phenomenological analysis. This study contributes to the existing literature by empirically evaluating the notion of digital wellbeing in the everyday choices of university students, thereby comprehending their safety concerns and how they manage online risks while exploring solutions to combat the risks of digital usage. The study adds value to the present literature on digital wellbeing by juxtaposing digital risks with the construct of wellbeing in digitalized societies.

Influence of health status and loneliness on satisfaction with life, emotional dimensions, and distress in junior handball players

This transversal study aimed to examine the contribution of predictor variables of the construct of health status (objective and subjective assessment of health) to the variability of the criteria satisfaction with life, emotional dimensions (positive affect, negative affect), and emotional factor of distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) in junior handball players. The pertinent sample consisted of 132 junior handball players in – Serbian First League. The average age of participants was 18.25 ± 0.90 years of age. The following measuring instruments were used: 1) the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale – DASS-21, 2) De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale – DJGLS, 3) the Satisfaction with Life Scale‒ SWLS, and 4) The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule – PANAS showed satisfactory internal consistency. The conducted multiple regression analysis explained 51% of the proportion variance of the dependent variable satisfaction with life, positive and/or negative affectivity, and cognitive aspect of distress, where the only statistically significant negative predictors were loneliness and subjective assessment of health status. At the same time, when it comes to the assessment of loneliness in adolescents, these independent variables achieved significant interaction with the subjective assessment of health. This would mean that handball players, who subjectively assess their health as bad, and feel lonelier. On the other hand, the regression model did not confirm the role of the predictor variable objective assessment of health status and loneliness. This regression study has contributed to the existing literature and empirical data on the significance of the rarely explored relations between the constructs of health and well-being in the adolescent sports population. Theoretical contributions and practical implications for future research were also discussed.

The structure of well-being: a single underlying factor with genetic and environmental influences

PurposeThe structure of well-being has been debated for millennia. Dominant conceptualisations, such as the hedonic and eudaimonic models, emphasise different constituents of the well-being construct. Some previous studies have suggested that the underlying structure of well-being may consist of one or a few general well-being factors. We conducted three studies to advance knowledge on the structure of well-being comprising more than 21,500 individuals, including a genetically informative twin sample.MethodsIn Study 1, we used hierarchical exploratory factor analysis to identify well-being factors in a population-based sample of Norwegian adults. In Study 2, we used confirmatory factor analysis to examine the model fit of the identified factor model in an independent sample. In Study 3, we used biometric models to examine genetic and environmental influences on general well-being factors.ResultsWe identified six well-being factors which all loaded on a single higher-order factor. This higher-order factor may represent a general “happiness factor”, i.e. an h-factor, akin to the p-factor in psychopathology research. The identified factor model had excellent fit in an independent sample. All well-being factors showed moderate genetic and substantial non-shared environmental influence, with heritability estimates ranging from 26% to 40%. Heritability was highest for the higher-order general happiness factor.ConclusionOur findings yield novel insights into the structure of well-being and genetic and environmental influences on general well-being factors, with implications for well-being and mental health research, including genetically informative studies.

Assessing Arab Citizens’ Psychological Well-Being During Times of Crisis: A Comparison of Three Arab Countries

Emergencies have an impact on people's psychological well-being. The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its accompanying lockdowns was significant. People from various countries reported varying levels of psychological distress. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being of Arab citizens from the beginning of the pandemic to the end. The responses of 1239 citizens of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Oman were analyzed. The psychological well-being constructs of self-kindness, annoyance and rumination, and future anxiety were examined by gender and country, and by feelings of loneliness, presence of psychological disorders, and psychological rehabilitation before the start of the pandemic. The constructs of psychological well-being were assessed using self-report scales. The findings revealed significant differences between countries in the positive and negative components of psychological well-being, future anxiety, and rumination. Saudi and Omani citizens reported more positive feelings of self-compassion than Jordanians. Pre-existing feelings of loneliness were associated with lower levels of self-compassion, negative thought rumination, and elevated anxiety. Positive feelings, mental health, and sound thinking increase feelings of self-compassion and reduce future anxiety. Females were more concerned about the future and expressed more negative thoughts than males, mostly in Jordan and Oman. Positive self-compassion dimensions were associated with a reduction in future anxiety. Implying that the mental health resilience of countries differed in response to the crisis.
 
 Received: 22 January 2023 / Accepted: 03 April 2023 / Published: 5 May 2023

Well-being as Need Fulfillment: Implications for Theory, Methods, and Practice.

The most prominent concept championed by human resource professionals, point solution providers, and the mental health care industry is the construct of holistic well-being. Despite the tremendous attention focused on well-being, the concept lacks theoretical consensus among its proponents. Like the concept of engagement, this field cries out for clearly stated definitions that embed the concept within a theoretical framework, allowing theory development to avoid the prolific category errors of the past 50years. This paper argues for a more sophisticated approach to the concept of well-being, grounding it in the vast psychological literature on human motivation. Herein lies the contribution of our paper; we argue that the apparent diversity of operational definitions employed by academics and practitioners can be understood as tentative attempts to draw ever nearer to key motivational concepts, without ever quite getting there. We review the leading definitions of well-being in the literature and find that they are reducible to a core set of human motives, each backed by full research traditions of their own, which populate a comprehensive model of twelve human motivations. We propose that there is substantial value in adopting a comprehensive motivational taxonomy over current approaches, which have the effect of "snowballing" ever more dimensions and elements. We consider the impact of setting well-being concepts in existing motivational constructs for each of the following: (a) theory, especially the development of well-being frameworks; (b) methods, including the value of applying a comprehensive, structural approach; and (c) practice, where we emphasize the practical advantages of clear operational definitions.

The power of the place we live: What roles do home and the community play in well-being?

The place where we live has a significant impact on the way we live, feel and assess our lives. Housing conditions, the characteristics of the neighborhood around the dwelling or of the community, and commuting conditions have a relationship with the multidimensional construct of well-being. This paper examines the roles that home and the community play in well-being. Background literature on quality of life, well-being and its domains and the role of the place where we live is interpreted in the paper. The empirical analysis aims to describe the relationships between home and well-being and the community and well-being. The quantitative method used to conduct this investigation included a representative survey in Hungary. Our results confirm previous research findings in many areas (weak or moderate significant relationships between some sociodemographic and other often-examined well-being domains and well-being) and identify weak and positive significant relationships between home and well-being and the community and well-being. The overall well-being of the Hungarian population is significantly influenced by their attachment to their community.

Childhood maltreatment and major depressive disorder in well-being: a network analysis of a longitudinal community-based cohort.

Little has been done to comprehensively study the relationships between multiple well-being constructs at a time. Even less is known about whether child maltreatment and major depressive disorder (MDD) impact different well-being constructs. This study aims to examine whether maltreated or depressed individuals have specific impacts on well-being structures. Data analyzed were from the Montreal South-West Longitudinal Catchment Area Study (N = 1380). The potential confounding of age and sex was controlled by propensity score matching. We used network analysis to assess the impact of maltreatment and MDD on well-being. The centrality of nodes was estimated with the 'strength' index and a case-dropping bootstrap procedure was used to test network stability. Differences in the structure and connectivity of networks between different studied groups were also examined. Autonomy and daily life and social relations were the most central nodes for the MDD and maltreated groups [MDD group: strength coefficient (SC) autonomy = 1.50; SCdaily life and social relations = 1.34; maltreated group: SCautonomy = 1.69; SCdaily life and social relations = 1.55]. Both maltreatment and MDD groups had statistical differences in terms of the global strength of interconnectivity in their networks. Network invariance differed between with and without MDD groups indicating different structures of their networks. The non-maltreatment and MDD group had the highest level of overall connectivity. We discovered distinct connectivity patterns of well-being outcomes in maltreatment and MDD groups. The identified core constructs could serve as potential targets to maximize the effectiveness of clinical management of MDD and also advance prevention to minimize the sequelae of maltreatment.

Psychometric properties of the Flourishing Scale for South African first-year students

This study focused on a positive construct of well-being, namely flourishing. In a multicultural and diverse country such as South Africa, it is a legal requirement to provide evidence that measures of psychological constructs, like flourishing, are fair, unbiased, and equivalent for diverse groups in the country. The aim was to test the psychometric properties of the Flourishing Scale, a purpose-made scale that measures positive functioning across various areas of life. This study tested the factorial validity, item bias, measurement invariance and reliability of the Flourishing Scale in a sample of 1088 South African first-year university students. A unidimensional structure was confirmed. Although three items showed statistically significant uniform and total bias for language and campus groups, the magnitude and practical impact were negligible. No evidence of bias across gender groups was found. Configural, metric and partial scalar invariance were established for language and campus groups. Full measurement invariance was established across gender groups. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.91, indicating high reliability. The study provided promising results for using the Flourishing Scale among South African university students to measure flourishing as an aspect of well-being.Contribution: This study contributes to the field of student well-being in South Africa. No studies could be found that test for item bias or measurement invariance of the Flourishing Scale, specifically for South African first-year students. This study is the first to test these psychometric properties of a Flourishing Scale in a multicultural setting for students from different languages.

Reciprocal associations between parenthood and mental well-being – a prospective analysis from age 16 to 52 years

ObjectiveThe present study examines the bidirectional nature of the associations between parenthood and mental well-being using 36-year longitudinal data.BackgroundMental well-being can affect if and when one becomes a parent (selection hypothesis), and the characteristics of parenthood can affect mental well-being (causation hypothesis). However, life course research has infrequently studied these hypotheses in parallel. Previous studies have also typically only focused on one aspect of parenthood (e.g., having children) and on the negative aspects of the mental well-being construct.MethodThe participants in the Finnish ‘Stress, Development and Mental Health (TAM)’ cohort study were followed up at ages 16, 22, 32, 42, and 52 (N = 1160). The measures of parenthood (having children, timing of parenthood, and number of children) and mental well-being at ages 16 and 52 (depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and meaningfulness) were based on self-report.ResultsFor men, higher self-esteem in adolescence was associated with having children, and having children was associated with higher self-esteem in middle age. For women, depressive symptoms at age 16 were associated with becoming a parent at age 24 or younger. For both genders, having children was associated with a higher sense of meaningfulness in middle age.ConclusionStudied within the life course perspective, our results indicate that parenthood has a positive effect on mental well-being in mid-adulthood even when accounting for selection effects.

Psychometric properties of the Harmony in Life Scale in South African and Ghanaian samples

Harmony is regarded as important for well-being in many cultures. However, (cultural) differences in the meanings and manifestations of harmony may impact the equivalence of measures of harmony in life, as well as the associations between harmony and other well-being constructs. This study aimed to investigate the factorial, convergent and divergent validity, and measurement invariance of the Harmony in Life Scale (HILS) in South African and Ghanaian samples. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to data from three South African samples (two multicultural samples completed the HILS in English; and a Setswana-speaking sample completed the HILS in Setswana) and one Ghanaian sample (completed the HILS in English). Sample sizes ranged between n = 400 and n = 427. Good fit indices were obtained for all samples, except for the Setswana-speaking sample from South Africa. In all instances the HILS showed good internal consistency reliability and convergent and divergent validity. Full scalar invariance was supported for the two multicultural South African samples, but only partial scalar invariance when data from the Ghanaian sample were added to the analysis. The HILS shows potential for future use in all samples, except the Setswana-speaking sample. Findings emphasise the importance of considering cultural and/or contextual and linguistic differences and how these may influence the measurement of psychological constructs. Future research should qualitatively explore the meanings and manifestations of harmony in various African and other global contexts in local languages.Contribution: This study is the first to investigate the psychometric properties of the original English version of the HILS in South African and Ghanaian samples, as well as a Setswana translation of the scale. The study contributes to the understanding of harmony in life and the measurement thereof in diverse contexts, in this case specifically focused on African samples, and may, in turn, inform interventions and evaluation of interventions.

Assessing Burnout and Well-Being in Higher Education Health Science Faculty

This study aimed to examine and compare the extent of burnout among health science faculty at a higher education institution and their self-reported perception of well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The design of the study was cross-sectional, descriptive survey research. An electronic questionnaire was developed to measure the constructs of burnout and well-being. Validated instruments used in the survey included the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) and the World Health Organization-5 Well-being Index. The Qualtrics ® platform was used to distribute the survey to all full-time faculty within the College of Health Sciences. 45 respondents from nursing, community and environmental health, kinesiology, social work, respiratory care, allied health sciences, and radiologic sciences completed the survey. Significant differences were observed in the extent of burnout and perception of well-being between faculty members who had clinical teaching responsibilities within their faculty role compared to those who did not, <em>p</em> = 0.005, Partial Eta Squared = 0.318. Faculty with a 9-month contract appointment had significantly lower OLBI-Disengagement scores (p = 0.024) and OLBI-Full Burnout scores (p = 0.047) compared with those with another contract length. There was a significantly negative relationship between the extent of burnout and perception of well-being. In this sample of health science faculty, burnout, as characterized by increased exhaustion and disengagement, was moderately prevalent and associated with poorer well-being.

Selecting, Optimizing, and Compensating During Lockdown: How Older Consumers Use Social Networking Services to Improve Social Well-Being

During the COVID-19 pandemic, older consumers have increased their usage of social networking services (SNSs) to avoid social isolation, yet this behavior remains unexplored. Through selective optimization with compensation theory, the authors combine concepts from gerontology and marketing to investigate the following research question: How does older consumers’ usage of SNSs during the pandemic interrelate with the constructs of social well-being? The research draws on qualitative data collated during lockdown in the United Kingdom, including 14 semistructured interviews from participants age 65–80 and six months of netnographic data from an online forum geared toward older people. The findings reveal how older consumers leverage three strategies—selection, optimization, and compensation—to improve their use of SNSs and social interactions during lockdowns. Such behaviors in turn interrelate with the dimensions of social well-being: social acceptance, social integration, social contribution, social actualization, and social coherence. This research contributes to the marketing literature by (1) introducing a framework for transformative SNSs into transformative service research, (2) utilizing theory from gerontology studies to further understand the older consumer, and (3) enhancing the sparse understanding of older consumers’ use of SNSs. Future research directions and managerial implication are suggested for both marketers and developers of SNSs for aging consumers.

Positive attributes in elderly people with different degrees of depression: a study based on network analysis

IntroductionDepression in aging may lead to loss of autonomy and worsening of comorbidities. Understanding how positive attributes contribute to healthier and happier aging has been one of the purposes of Positive Psychology. However, the literature still lacks studies that evaluate how depression in the elderly is related to constructs considered positive.ObjectiveThe present study aimed comparing scores of constructs of spiritual well-being, social support, self-esteem, life satisfaction, affection, optimism, and hope in the elderly with minimal, mild, moderate, and severe depression and healthy controls in order to investigate possible indirect and mediated relationships between positive constructs and depression.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with elderly, 62 of whom were diagnosed with different severity of Major Depression (DSM-V) (minimum, mild, moderate, and severe according to the Beck Depression Inventory — BDI) and 66 healthy controls matched by age, sex and schooling. The instruments used were adapted and validated versions of the Spirituality Self-Rating Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Medical Outcomes Social Scale of Support, the Life Satisfaction Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the Revised Life Orientation Test, and the Adult Dispositional Hope Scale. After comparing the means of scores between groups, an analysis of normalized partial association networks was performed to investigate the direct and mediated relationships between depression and other evaluated constructs.ResultsScores of spiritual well-being, social support, self-esteem, life satisfaction, positive affect, optimism, negative affects, and hope differed significantly between the control group and the degrees of depression (p < 0.001). The analysis of normalized partial association networks has shown that the relations of depression with the constructs of life satisfaction, self-esteem, and social support are mediated, while the constructs of dispositional hope, positive affect, spiritual well-being, and optimism are indirectly related to depression. The social class was also positively related to depression.ConclusionDepression in different degrees is associated with a reduction in the scores of instruments that evaluate positive attributes. The constructs directly associated with depression are spiritual well-being, optimism, positive affect, and dispositional hope. The others had mediated relationship. These results may contribute to the planning of future interventions for the prevention of depression among the elderly.

Development Via Web Application of an Academic Well-Being Scale for University Students During the Covid-19 Pandemic

This is a study of technological development in the elaboration of a computerized instrument for the evaluation of the selfperception of academic well-being, based on the theory of subjective well-being of Positive Psychology. It aimed to build an instrument and seek evidence of validity via web application as a technology for evaluation of the construct of academic well-being in university students. Descriptive and exploratory, quantitative field investigation with 702 volunteer academics from Universities from different geopolitical regions in Brazil. After the theoretical analysis, through an integrative review, which allowed the construction of the items, which initially were 50 items. In the construction of the instrument, factors related to the content of academic well-being were obtained, with Eigenvalue equal to or greater than 0.44 being defined. Thus, 03 Factors were evidenced: Factor 01 - Self-confidence and professional academic achievement, with 27 items; Factor 02 - Social support with 2 items; and Factor 3 - Self-perceived limitations in income, with 11 items. The total scale presented McDonald’s Omega of 0.894, with 40 items in its final version. The validity conditions were guaranteed, together with the reliability, of the three subscales and the total scale assured. Such aspects of the evaluation of academic well-being can be employed in verifications after the return of university activities, identifying possibilities of changes in the academic scenario and strategies of interventions and behavioral readaptations.

Assessing the psychometric properties of a modified global wellbeing measure in Ghana

We live in a world faced by unprecedented environmental change. As such, it is difficult to fathom how we might define, measure, and monitor related impacts on population wellbeing. This is especially the case in low to middle income countries that lack holistic national wellbeing measures but are the most impacted by global environmental changes. As part of a larger research program that aims to develop a Global Index of Wellbeing (GLOWING), this paper reports the assessment of the psychometric properties of a community wellbeing measure, using Ghana as a case study. Informed by the ecosocial and capabilities frameworks and in-depth qualitative and focus group discussions, survey data (n = 1036) were collected from three regions in Ghana to assess population wellbeing across several domains. Using structural equation modelling, psychometric properties of this modified wellbeing measure were tested to show the relative contribution of each domain to overall wellbeing. Pathways between domains and overall wellbeing were also investigated. The modified wellbeing measure showed good sensitivity, validity, and reliability which makes it suitable as a valuable tool for measuring wellbeing in Ghana and perhaps other LMIC settings. Furthermore, while the range of wellbeing constructs showed significance across the three regions studied, their relative importance differed, underscoring the importance of place to the measurement of wellbeing. Multivariate analysis shows a multiple range of factors [living conditions, sense of community, perception of environmental quality and political participation] were associated with wellbeing, requiring innovative, flexible and action-oriented approaches to improving population wellbeing. In this regard, we propose modifications to the scale to enable it to capture the role of place, while allowing for comparisons across space.

Toward a contextualized understanding of well-being in the midwifery profession: An integrative review

AbstractOur integrative review synthesizes and evaluates two decades of empirical research on well-being in the midwifery profession to reveal (1) how researchers have studied midwives’ well-being; (2) key findings of research on midwives’ well-being; (3) underlying assumptions of this research; and (4) limitations of this research. We find that research on midwives’ well-being is disproportionately focused on individual midwives, who are assumed to be largely responsible for their own well-being, and that well-being in the midwifery profession is generally equated with the absence of mental health problems such as burnout, anxiety, and stress. Researchers have largely taken a narrow and instrumental approach to study midwives’ well-being, focusing on work-related antecedents and consequences, and overlooking the influence of nonwork factors embedded in the broader socioeconomic and cultural environment. Drawing on more comprehensive and contextualized well-being frameworks, we propose a research model that (1) expands the well-being construct as it applies to midwives and (2) situates midwives’ well-being in broader social, economic, political, and cultural contexts. Although developed in the midwifery context, our proposed research model can be applied to a host of professions.

Association between friendship quality and subjective wellbeing among adolescents: a systematic review

BackgroundSocial integration with friends has an important role in shaping adolescents’ behavior and determining their wellbeing. Friendship features such as companionship, trust, closeness, intimacy, and conflicts all form the concept of friendship quality. The quality of friendships can either enhance or impede mental development during adolescence. Therefore, this systematic review was conducted to understand the association between friendship quality and adolescents’ mental wellbeing.MethodsIn November 2020 and later in August 2022, the search for evidence was conducted on five databases (Medline, Embase, ProQuest, Scopus, and PsycINFO). Only peer-reviewed quantitative studies published from January 2000 to August 2022 that investigated friendship quality as their exposure variable in relation to six constructs of subjective wellbeing (mood, loneliness, life satisfaction, happiness, self-esteem, and subjective wellbeing) were included. After screening for eligibility, two reviewers independently extracted the data based on population characteristics, study design, exposure and outcome variables, outcome measures used, and results. Risk of bias assessment was performed utilizing the NIH Quality Assessment Tool. Narrative evidence synthesis was performed based on the constructs of subjective wellbeing.ResultsForty-three articles out of 21,585 records were included in the review. The relationship between friendship quality and depression has been investigated extensively in the literature and negative (beneficial) associations were found in eighteen studies out of twenty-three. Poor peer relationship was associated with loneliness in nine studies out of ten. All seven studies on life satisfaction and quality of peer connection found a positive association. In five studies, better peer relationship was found to be associated with happiness. A positive association between friendship quality and self-esteem was observed in five out of six applicable studies. Friendship quality was found to be positively associated with subjective well-being in all of five included studies.ConclusionsAlthough majority of the included studies were cross-sectional in nature, this review demonstrates the paramount value of promoting healthy friendship to adolescents’ subjective wellbeing constructs. Interventions that aim to promote subjective wellbeing among adolescents should consider the development and maintenance of healthy friendships.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42020219312.