What Is Quality Of Life?
Although there is a lot of talk about quality of life, we don’t always have a clear idea of what that means. There are many expert definitions on this subject and it could be said that in one way or another each person could construct their own concept of what a quality life is.
It should also be taken into account that sociology, anthropology, health sciences, politics and almost every human sciences have their own ideas of what quality of life is. Generally speaking, the different definitions share many aspects in common, but they also have differences.
There is no closed agreement on the importance of the objective and subjective factors that define quality of life. Some views give greater relevance to factors, such as the level of income or the availability of public services. Other approaches place more emphasis on the degree of life satisfaction or appreciation.
What is the quality of life?
In a very general way, one could say that the quality of life is the set of circumstances which guarantee the well-being of a person in a given context. These coincide to a large extent with the type of life that each person wishes to have.
Quality of life is in a way synonymous with what people call “happiness”. However, this last concept is very abstract and relative. There are no fully defined benchmarks for what it means to be happy.
The 76-year Harvard University study led by psychiatrist George Vaillant set out to identify the factors that make people happy. In order, they are:
- The presence of love in life.
- Have meaningful relationships.
- Do not abuse psychotropic drugs.
- Have a job that inspires enthusiasm and provides what it takes to live.
- Optimism.
These are the conclusions of a very in-depth study: this study lasted for many years and had the participation of many people. However, it was conducted in high income countries, which could involve a bias. Despite this, the elements seem to have a good degree of universality.
Well-being and quality of life
The word wellness also refers to a concept for which there is no unanimous definition. There is quality of life when there is well-being, but the latter involves several dimensions and there must be a balance between them. The different types of well-being are:
Emotional well-being
Those who understand their emotions and know how to regulate them feel an emotional well-being ; they develop a process of personal growth in which inner strength and the ability to make reasonable and independent decisions predominate. It is thus possible for them to establish healthy interdependent relationships.
Material well-being
It is understood that there is material well-being when the level of income allows for the satisfaction of important needs. This is a controversial aspect, as needs vary greatly from person to person.
However, well-being exists if a person has access to basic goods, including housing, food, health, public services and recreation. Therefore, this notion of well-being also involves personal goals and values.
Social welfare
There is social well-being when bonds of cooperation and solidarity are established with the groups with which we interact. It translates into healthy, peaceful, mutually useful and supportive relationships that create a sense of security and balance. Each person needs a support network to have a good quality of life.
Physical well-being
It means having the ability to access everything that guarantees health. This includes the health services themselves, good nutrition, physical activity and healthy habits. Likewise, it involves knowing and being aware of the elements and practices that allow the body to function properly.
Personal development and quality of life
Each person needs opportunities to develop and deploy their potential in various fields. Among these opportunities is access to education and training, as well as decent work in which skills and knowledge can be applied, and in which there is the possibility to evolve in various ways.
As can be seen, the quality of life is made up of factors of various kinds. The world must move towards a state in which all of these forms of well-being are accessible to every human being, simply because they are.
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