One of the worst traps we can fall into when deciding how we want to live is to assume that only we influence our own well-being. This is why the concept of socio-affective well-being is so important .

Throughout this article we will see what socio-affective well-being consists of, and why it is a central concept in both psychology and the social sciences.

What is socio-affective welfare?

Socio-affective well-being is the set of biological, contextual and relational factors that allow us to feel good , in a global and holistic sense. It is, in short, to feel good with oneself and with the material and social context in which one lives.

It is important to take into account, for example, that people who have all their basic needs covered (that is, those that have to do with maintaining a good state of health in real time, or in the very short term) may feel very bad for several reasons: a work environment in which punishments prevail, a poor social life, etc.

That is why, just as mental disorders are not simply experienced “from the inside out”, but the environment also influences how we live, so too does our well-being.

The concept of socio-affective welfare makes happiness and health go from being phenomena that must be treated individually to much more complex phenomena, for which the public and collective management of the environment also counts. Therefore, the public administration also has a duty to be concerned with this issue.

Contextual elements that influence this

To help understand better what social-emotional well-being consists of, it is good to review some examples of aspects of our environment that influence it . Let’s see them.

Presence or absence of abuse

This is a very important element, especially considering that abuse is not always physical or involves injuries , but can be psychological and very subtle.

2. Amount of social and environmental stimuli

It is not the same to live in a place with a rich variety of novelties and stimuli as it is to live in a lonely cabin in the middle of a desert. In the long run, the monotony and scarcity of novelties leave a mark on mental health .

3. Presence or absence of discrimination

Discrimination continues to be a very present social problem and is suffered by several groups in a situation of vulnerability. For this reason, it has an impact on the social and emotional well-being of people who suffer this discrimination in their own flesh and, to a lesser extent, on that of other citizens, who have evidence of the fragility of the social fabric in which they live .

4. Presence of solidarity culture

Solidarity allows the less fortunate to receive help from those who are better off. As a consequence, is a logic that runs in the opposite direction to individualism , and starts from a collectivist conception of society in which socio-affective welfare has a great importance.

Socio-affective well-being in life stages

The needs to which socio-affective well-being must respond are evolving as we go through the stages of life. Let us look at several examples of this.

Childhood

During childhood, physical contact with the father or mother becomes especially important, as well as the existence of a communication rich in both content and the emotional charge that is expressed through gestures and language.

In addition, it is important to have a rich environment that promotes learning and the development of curiosity.

Adolescence

In adolescence it is especially important to have healthy relationships with the members of the peer group (friends and classmates). One’s own identity and self-esteem develop, to a large extent, depending on how other people treat us.

Post-adolescence

From about 15 to 20 years of age, the need to develop an independent life and to perceive one’s own self-efficacy becomes particularly important. Knowing that one is capable of doing everything that adults do allows one to feel part of society.

Adulthood

From about 20 to 45 years of age, social issues and intellectual concerns become more important. Access to culture , to be able to learn in a self-taught manner, gains strength, given that one seeks to cultivate one’s own knowledge. At the same time, one stops giving so much importance to the opinions of others about oneself, since the self-concept is much better consolidated than before.

Mature age

At this stage there is a tendency to value stability more highly in relation to what has been achieved over the years. Similarly, the risk of isolation due to a frequent decline in the number of friendships is also a concern and may endanger socio-affective well-being.