The link between happiness and health: a review of concepts, pathways and strategies for enhancing well-being

Mafalda Mendes; Pedro Simões; José Augusto Simões; Luiz Miguel Santiago; Filipe Prazeres; Tiago Maricoto

doi:10.5114/fmpcr.2023.130090

eISSN: 2449-8580
ISSN: 1734-3402

Family Medicine & Primary Care Review

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3/2023
vol. 25

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abstract:

Original paper

The link between happiness and health: a review of concepts, pathways and strategies for enhancing well-being

Mafalda Mendes

¹

,

Pedro Augusto Simões

^{1, 2}

,

José Augusto Simões

^{1, 3}

,

Luiz Miguel Santiago

^{4, 5, 6}

,

Filipe Prazeres

^{1, 3, 7}

,

Tiago Maricoto

^{1, 7, 8}

Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
Personalised Health Care Unit Fundão, Fundão, Portugal
CINTESIS@RISE, MEDCIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal
General Practice Clinic of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal
Centre for Health Studies and Research of the University of Coimbra (CEISUC), Coimbra, Portugal
Family Health Unit Beira Ria, Gafanha da Nazaré, Portugal
Aveiro Healthcare Centre, Family Health Unit Aradas, Aveiro, Portugal

Family Medicine & Primary Care Review 2023; 25(3): 288–296

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/fmpcr.2023.130090

Online publish date: 2023/09/30

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Background
Recent years have seen a significant body of research independently associating the presence of happiness and well-being with a lower risk of mortality and with an improved physical and mental health status, which presents a relevant impact on public health. Nonetheless, there are still gaps in literature, and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear.

Objectives
This paper reviews literature regarding the main concepts and measurements associated with well-being, discussing pathways that link happiness to health and compiling strategies to improve it.

Material and methods
A narrative literature review was performed gathering the most relevant articles concerning concepts, definitions and measurements associated with well-being, as well as regarding pathways and mechanisms that link happiness to health. The concepts and definitions associated with happiness and well-being are discussed, and common constructs related to the latter are then considered. Additionally, the available methods to measure happiness and well-being, and their limitations, are analysed.

Results
The main pathways that link mental to physical well-being include: 1) neurobiological processes, 2) the indirect impact on health behaviours, 3) the promotion of protective psychosocial resources and 4) stress buffering effects.

Conclusions
Happiness and well-being play a major role on human’s health, and many features and dimensions may be involved in this relationship. Public health measures should focus on upstream determinants of health and well-being, but more research is needed in order to fill in some gaps, such as the variety of available instruments to address, evaluate and promote efficient intervention.

keywords:

The link between happiness and health: a review of concepts, pathways and strategies for enhancing well-being

Mafalda Mendes 1 , Pedro Augusto Simões 1, 2 , José Augusto Simões 1, 3 , Luiz Miguel Santiago 4, 5, 6 , Filipe Prazeres 1, 3, 7 , Tiago Maricoto 1, 7, 8

health status, happiness, psychological well-being, illness behaviour

Mafalda Mendes

¹

,

Pedro Augusto Simões

^{1, 2}

,

José Augusto Simões

^{1, 3}

,

Luiz Miguel Santiago

^{4, 5, 6}

,

Filipe Prazeres

^{1, 3, 7}

,

Tiago Maricoto

^{1, 7, 8}