Skip to main content

Table 1 Constructs, features, items and thresholds used to calculate optimal wellbeing

From: Associations between lifestyle behaviours and optimal wellbeing in a diverse sample of New Zealand adults

Construct and features

Item (Likert scale; anchors)

Threshold

Positive emotion (required)

 • Happiness

Taking all things together, how happy would you say you are?

0–10; extremely unhappy-extremely happy

≥ 8

Positive characteristics (4 of 5 required)

 • Emotional stability

In the past week, I felt calm and peaceful

1–4; none or almost none of the time-all or almost all of the time

≥ 2

 • Vitality

During the past week, you had a lot of energy?

1–4; none or almost none of the time-all or almost all

≥ 3

 • Optimism

I am always optimistic about my future

1–5; strongly disagree-strongly agree

≥ 4

 • Resilience

When things go wrong in my life it generally takes me a long time to get back to normal

1–5; strongly disagree-strongly agree; reverse score

≥ 4

 • Self-esteem

In general, I feel very positive about myself

1–5; strongly disagree-strongly agree

≥ 4

Positive functioning (3 of 4 required)

 • Engagement

To what extent do you learn new things in your life?

0–6; not at all-a great deal

≥ 5

 • Competence

Most days I feel a sense of accomplishment from what I do

1–5; strongly disagree-strongly agree

≥ 4

 • Meaning

I generally feel that what I do in my life is valuable and worthwhile

1–5; strongly disagree-strongly agree

≥ 4

 • Positive relationships

To what extent do you receive help and support from people you are close to when you need it?

0–6; not at all-completely

≥ 4

  1. To be classified as meeting the criteria for optimal wellbeing individuals must (1) meet the threshold for positive emotion; (2) meet the threshold for four out of five features of positive characteristics; and (3) meet the threshold for three out of four features of positive functioning