Velbefinnende

Velbefinnende is a Nordic term that denotes the state of being well, encompassing physical health, mental functioning and social wellbeing. In everyday usage it covers both how people feel about their lives and their objective health status, making it closely related to, but broader than, traditional medical indicators.

The concept of velbefinnende includes multiple dimensions. Physical health concerns the absence or management of illness and the body’s functioning. Mental well-being covers mood, stress, anxiety and resilience. Social well-being involves meaningful relationships, social support and functioning within communities. Together, these dimensions capture both subjective experiences of life satisfaction and objective indicators of health and functioning.

Measurement and use in policy often combine self-reported indicators with standardized instruments. Surveys may include questions on life satisfaction, perceived health, mood, and perceived social support, alongside traditional metrics such as morbidity and mortality. Health-related quality of life measures and population well-being indices are common tools for assessing velbefinnende at the community or national level.

Determinants of velbefinnende are diverse and interrelated. Income, education, employment, housing, social networks, lifestyle choices, environmental conditions, and access to healthcare all influence levels of well-being. Public health and social policies aim to improve velbefinnende by addressing these determinants, through programs that support mental health, reduce inequalities, and foster social cohesion.

In usage, velbefinnende is often used in welfare and public health discourse to describe the overall health and happiness of a population, complementing clinical health metrics.