velværen

Velværen is the Norwegian term for well-being, denoting the overall state of health, happiness, and life satisfaction of an individual or a community. The word is formed from vel (well) and være (to be); the cognate Danish form is velvære, and Swedish forms exist as well. In common usage velværen can refer to both subjective feelings of well-being and objective conditions that contribute to it.

In academic and policy contexts, velværen is understood as more than the absence of illness. It encompasses physical health, mental health, security, social connections, meaningful work, affordable housing, education, environmental quality, and social inclusion. Researchers describe velværen as a multidimensional construct influenced by income, education, housing, neighborhood safety, and access to services.

Measurement of velværen relies on subjective and objective indicators. Subjective measures include life satisfaction scales and mood assessments; objective indicators include health status, employment, income levels, and housing quality. International surveys such as life satisfaction and happiness indices contribute to cross-country comparisons of velværen. Policy discussions around velværen emphasize interventions that improve social determinants of health, preventive care, mental health support, and equitable access to resources. Critics caution against equating velværen with GDP or short-term mood fluctuations, arguing for long-term, holistic approaches.

See also: Well-being; Quality of life; Happiness economics; Social determinants of health.