ABSTRACT
Studies of the occurrence and distribution of mental illnesses in the United States (Kessler & Zhao, 1999; Keyes & Lopez, 2002) suggest that as many as 50% of adults will remain free of serious mental illness over their lifetimes with 90% of the adult population remaining free ofmajor depression in a given year. Are adults who remain free of mental illnesses annually and over a lifetime mentally healthy and productive? This is a pivotal question for everyone interested in the well-being of adults. Proponents of mental health distinguish this state from the mere absence of mental illnesses (Keyes & Shapiro, in press). This chapter examines three aspects of subjective well-being-psychological, social, and emotional-that impact mental health. Emotional well-being is characterized as a positive feeling state, and social and psychological well-being are characterized as positive functional states. Focusing on individuals 18 years old or older, we then review evidence indicating the beneficial social and economic outcomes that are associated with higher levels of subjective well-being, and identify multiple determinants of subjective well-being for adults.
