Psychological Health, Well-Being, and the Mind-Heart-Body Connection: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Abstract

Positive psychological health is also multifaceted and may be characterized by a sense of optimism, sense of purpose, gratitude, resilience, positive affect (ie, positive emotion), and happiness. Several terms have been used to describe and capture an overall state of health. Wellness is more than simply the absence of disease. It is an active process directed toward a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life and includes not only physical but also psychological and emotional dimensions. [2](https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000947#core-R2) The related term well-being can be defined as one’s cognitive and affective evaluation and assessment of one’s life, including physical health, satisfaction, happiness, and a sense of fulfillment. Well-being serves as an umbrella term for the different valuations people make about their lives, including their physical and mental health, their financial position, their social supports and connectedness to community, their opportunities for growth and ability to achieve their goals, and a general sense of purpose and satisfaction with their life course.