Why Definitional Clarity Matters: Implications for the Operationalization of Emotional Well-Being

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is increasingly prioritizing research on health-promoting processes. Park et al. (this issue) respond to a call made by NIH to advance the study of emotional well-being (EWB) and to increase understanding of the fundamental constituents of EWB across the lifespan and among diverse subgroups. They propose a definition of EWB that provides an organizing framework for research on ‘psychological aspects of well-being’ and health. We commend this important first step and urge consideration of three important issues related to operationalization — the process by which an abstract concept is transformed into variables that can be measured — in future research on EWB. We expect that an iterative process of construct refinement and empirical validation will advance the study of EWB, producing scientific discoveries that can be leveraged to enhance health across the lifespan.