Preface

Well-being is a global multidimensional concept that reflects a combination of balance of positive and negative emotions, satisfaction with life, fulfillment, and positive functioning. The concept, which is closely related to quality of life, encompasses aspects of physical, economic, social, emotional, psychological, and overall development indices. Well-being is measured subjectively, typically with the use of self-report. A higher level of well-being is associated with positive health outcomes, including increased longevity, reduced risk of morbidity, and greater productivity.

While individual and personal resources such as diet, resiliency, and social relations directly influence well-being, other resources operating at the community, regional, and international levels, such as economic, social, and political resources, are of critical importance for well-being. As a public health tool, well-being offers metrics that inform economic and social policy development and policy evaluation.

Notably, well-being is defined, informed, and supported by key international principles, policies, and guidelines, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Geneva Charter for Well-being, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The WHO recognizes well-being as a positive state that forms a vital resource for life and is directed by conditions of society, economics, and the environment. Furthermore, well-being connotes the concept of quality of life and sits within the context of sustainable development phenomena, including the equitable distribution of resources, capacity building, and resilience [1].

The Geneva Charter for Well-being underscores the integration of physical, mental, spiritual, and social well-being and was endorsed by the WHO in December 2021. The Charter elucidates foundational principles for well-being such as human rights, social and environmental justice, solidarity, gender and inter-generational equity, and peace. Hence, well-being is a reflection of political, economic, and institutional ecosystems requiring a whole-of-society approach for implementation, maintenance, and sustainability [2].

The Geneva Charter for Well-being takes cognizance of the complexity of world crises and their diverse global impacts. This is of importance given the impact of recent pandemics, including Covid 19 [3], amidst the threats of re-emerging infections and communicable diseases, such as Ebola, dengue, and mpox [4–6]. The contribution of socioeconomic and health inequalities to these public health crises and, in particular, the impact on vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and those who have been displaced is a major focus of the risk mitigation platform of global healthcare systems [7]. The Geneva Charter

articulates the need for scaled-up responses to these crises, calling for investments to "integrate planetary, societal, community and individual health and well-being, as well as changes in social structures to support people to take control of their lives and health". The Charter recognizes that creating and sustaining well-being societies will require coordinated action in five critical areas:


The UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development elucidates a set of seventeen SDGs, which form the basis for development action globally within the next decade. Collectively, these goals aim to improve health and well-being; enhance management and conservation of natural resources; reduce inequalities and promote safe, resilient, inclusive, and just social, economic, and political structures and systems [8].

This book shares contributions from across the spectrum of empirical evidence, scientific studies, and perspective pieces, covering the dimensions of wellness and well-being in a framework of sustainable development. Cross-cutting themes include gender, human rights, social and environmental justice/equity and inclusivity, health promotion/settings, and healthy public policy.

The book elucidates the concept of well-being and situates the discussions in the context of global health and the seventeen SDGs, which support the establishment of well-being societies. The arguments proposed by the authors are also reflective of the Geneva Charter for Well-being, which calls for a redirection of social norms and value systems to align with the 2030 SDG agenda.

The editors acknowledge the breadth of valuable contributions from across the globe and the sharing of unique perspectives and experiences on the various dimensions of wellness. Special thanks to all the authors of the chapters included in this body of work for making a notable scientific contribution to the field of research on well-being and quality of life.

Thanks to the editorial team, including Mrs. Audra Williams of the University of the West Indies (UWI) School of Nursing, Mona, Jamaica, in her role as assistant to the editor, for her technical support and contributions to the completion of this book project.

We trust this body of work will serve to advance the field of health care and scientific literature on the subject while encouraging and supporting humanity across the globe to improve their quality of life and make well-being a daily practice.
