Wellbeing Study Design

Jürgen Wilbert

2026-02-21

Definitions Psychological Wellbeing

flowchart TB
    A2[What are the
    constituents of 
    wellbeing?]
    A3["`**PERMA**<br>
    Positive Emotions
    Engagement
    Relations
    Meaning
    Accomplishment`"]
    
    B2[What are the 
    causes of 
    wellbeing?]
    B3["`**Self-Determination Theory**<br>
    Autonomy
    Relatedness
    Competence`"]

    C2[How do we assess/ 
    identify 
    wellbeing?]
    C3["`**Subjective Wellbeing**<br>
    Positive Emotions
    Negative Emotions
    Life Satisaction`"]

    subgraph "`***Prescriptive - Formal***`"
    direction TB
    A2:::orange ==o A3
    end
    subgraph "`***Explanatory - Causal***`"
    direction TB
    B2:::orange ==o B3
    end
    subgraph "`***Descriptive - Operational***`"
    direction TB
    C2:::orange ==o C3
    end
    
    classDef orange fill: orange

Framework

flowchart TB

subgraph perma ["`***PERMA***`"]
PERMA["`
    Positive Emotions
    Engagement
    Relations
    Meaning
    Accomplishment`"]
end

subgraph sit ["`***Situational Contexts***`"]
direction TB
SIT("`Seminars-Lectures
Exams
Student social life
Interactions with instructors
Study administration
Financial situation`")
end

subgraph swb ["`***Subjective Well being***`"]
direction TB
SWB("`Positive Emotions
Negative Emotions
Life Satisfaction`")
end

subgraph bpn ["`***Basic Psychological Needs***`"]
direction TB
BPN("`Autonomy
Relatedness
Competence
`")
end

subgraph state ["`***State***`"]
direction LR
perma ==o|Dimensions| sit
end

subgraph trait ["`***Trait***`"]
direction LR
bpn ==>|Frustration| swb
bpn ==>|Satisfaction| swb
end

state ==> trait

style state fill:LightBlue, stroke:black
style trait fill:LightBlue, stroke:black