Neural Correlates of Well-Being in Young Adults

Subjective experiences of well-being are multifaceted in nature, but the behavioral and neural correlates of subdomains of well-being are not yet well understood. Prior neuroimaging studies have primarily focused on single aspects of well-being (e.g., happiness). In the present study, we differentiated between five domains of well-being based on prior research (Green, van de Groep, et al., 2023): (a) family relationships; (b) dealing with stress; (c) self-confidence; (d) having impact, purpose, and meaning; and (e) feeling loved, appreciated, and respected. Young adults (age range = 20-25 years; n = 34) completed a self-evaluation functional magnetic resonance imaging task addressing the applicability of the items to the self on a scale of 1 to 4, followed by whether this item addressed a desire for change on a scale of 1 to 4. Behavioral ratings showed that young adults were least positive about dealing with stress and reported the highest degree of desired change for this domain. Higher positivity ratings in all five domains of current well-being were negatively associated with burnout symptoms. More burnout symptoms were associated with higher desire for future changes in the impact, confidence, and loved conditions. More depressive symptoms were associated with higher desire for future changes in all domains, except for confidence. Neural results showed increased activity in the precuneus for items addressing "positive family relations" and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for items addressing "dealing with stress," relative to the other domains, which did not result in distinct neural patterns. Together, these findings highlight the importance of assessing various components of well-being, which show distinct behavioral and neural patterns.