VISUALISING ELEMENTS of WELLBEING
Designing to support self-esteem and well-being in specialised accommodation
Facets of Wellbeing:
Drawing on research in the fields of environmental psychology, environmental design and person-environment relationships (PER) a number of concepts have been identified which are relevant to describing a resident's quality of life and sense of wellbeing.
Sense of Identity
A sense of identity is mentally constructed to generate ‘feelings of singularity, coherence, individuality, and unity’. A sense of identity development commences from infancy as ones awareness of their ‘feelings, impulses, aims and personality’ develops. The concept differs from ‘personhood’ (being human) and involves subjective, objective, immediate, and distant dimensions of oneself. Reference
Sense of Dignity
Refers to an internal state and external projection. To display dignity one projects calmness, seriousness, and controlled behaviour that engenders respect by others. One has a sense of personal dignity when a level of confidence, competence and/or pride about oneself is felt by the person.Reference
Psychological Safety
When psychologically safe people are authentic and vital because they are not afraid to be themselves nor of the interpersonal consequences of expressing an opinion or taking risks; and their behaviours are not defensive.Reference
Personal Space
Personal space is a flexible, invisible and asymmetrical area, which establishes a boundary between oneself and others. Depending on the type of relationship the distance of separation differs: intimate, personal, social, public and these are also influenced by a person’s characteristics such as gender, culture, or power relationships. Reference
Sense of Security
A sense of security is the emotional aspect of security whereby people feel safe in all aspects of their life in the present and into the future. It is linked to an ability to adapt to uncertainty or in times of change. Reference
Privacy
Privacy refers to the level by which one can control others access to them (or their social group) directly or through technology. It involves an ability to manage social interaction. Reference
Sense of Delight
A state whereby a person feels uplifted emotionally. Delight is to have to experience great pleasure.Reference
Sense of Comfort
Psychological comfort refers to a person’s experience of wellbeing. Aspects of the environment relate to satisfaction involving four aspects: personalization, freedom of choice, space and warmth.Reference
Independent Living
People live independently if they are able to be self-sufficient; that is, in that they undertake personal care for themselves and to make informed choices. Other aspects of their life, such as social or economic facets, may require support or skill development.Reference
Affordance
Affordance is the potential embedded in an environment or a person which enables certain actions and behaviours to occur. People are aware of what is afforded to them in a particular circumstance due to its attributes and this understanding will influence how they will engage with the surroundings. Reference
Sense of Community
Refers to a belief of a similarity and acknowledged interdependence with others. This interdependence is sought by giving and doing for others what the person would like for themselves, as well as a feeling that a person is part of a larger dependable
and stable structure. Reference
Emotional Enhancement
A state facilitated by external stimuli to amplifying existing emotional states: positively (euphoria/contentment) or negatively (paranoia/confusion). Reference
Spiritual Enhancement
A state arising when one’s focus is given to personal purpose, spiritual connectedness, and compassion to nature and other people over and above attachments to finances or material possessions.
Sense of Self
One’s self-concept consists of a. knowledge of one’s traits and beliefs; b. understandings of how we are perceived by others and relate to others; c. knowledge of how we are same or different to others. A sense of self relates to one’s ‘feeling of identity, uniqueness and self-direction’. A self-actualised person is able to fully accept who they are.Reference
Personal Governance
Personal governance is the ability to be able to direct one’s life and to act without being dependent on forces outside their control wherever possible. Reference
Sense of Control
Control refers to autonomy (mastery or ability to take action, to alter or regulate the environment) and motivation (reason to take action; internal process that makes people do what they do even if difficult) in decision making. Reference
Sense of Belonging
Belonging refers to a person's desire to develop and maintain social relationships (such as his/herself with people, places); social connectedness is linked to motivation, meaning and security while reducing loneliness. Social networks, space and time provide the context for a sense of belonging. Reference
