This is the first volume providing a research platform to showcase research in the field of positive psychology and well-being science in African contexts. Next to enhancing context-sensitive theory and practice on the African continent, it also contributes to the global discourse in positive psychology and facilitates the development of a science that reflects and is relevant to complexity and diversity in a globalising society. This volume brings together work from African scholars, featuring research on theoretical perspectives on well-being in Africa, measurement of well-being in Africa, manifestations and dynamics of well-being in Africa, and well-being promotion in Africa. It stimulates further research in positive psychology and well-being science in the African context and globally, and emphasises the interconnectedness and situatedness of human functioning and well-being, contributing to a more balanced perspective on well-being in an international perspective. The volume benefits researchers, students and practitioners in Africa and other international contexts who study or apply the science of positive psychology and well-being in diverse contexts. Chapter 1 is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

A global multidimensional concept, well-being is an important measure that is closely associated with quality of life. This book examines well-being concepts and measurements, related health theories and correlates of well-being, as well as gender and geographical differences. The authors explore the evidence on well-being policies, programs, and health interventions, in addition to issues of health advocacy, self-care, and healthy aging. They also examine global wellness perspectives in the context of planetary challenges and decolonization. As the authors share their unique perspectives, they bring to the fore the integration of cross-cutting themes of gender, human rights, social and environmental justice/equity and inclusivity, health promotion/settings, and healthy public policy. This book explores the diversity of philosophical and methodological perspectives on wellness and well-being. It further contextualizes the lived experience of the dimensions of well-being as experienced by the contributors across different regions of the globe.

Higher education institutions grapple with a pressing challenge: the well-being of their students. Amidst the transition to university life, students face a myriad of stressors, from academic pressures to managing finances and social connections. Yet, there continues to be a lack of robust evidence and focused literature addressing this critical issue. Factors Impacting Student Well-Being and Coping Tactics presents a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing mental, emotional, and social health in higher education settings. This book explores the intrinsic and extrinsic elements shaping student well-being through meticulously curated chapters, from risk factors to protective mechanisms. By offering evidence-based strategies and practical recommendations, the book empowers academics, administrators, and counselors to proactively address students' challenges and foster a supportive environment conducive to personal and scholarly growth.

This second edition of The Handbook of International Psychology chronicles the discipline of psychology as it evolves in different regions, from the perspective of those living and working in the countries they write about. This volume surveys the history, methodology, education, training, and future of psychology in more than 100 countries/territories, organized by region and continent. In this thoroughly updated and expanded edition, chapters highlight the important ways in which psychological knowledge and services are contextualized through culture, history, geography, social, and political forces. This comprehensive handbook is essential for students and teachers of psychology, as well as professionals wanting to develop their understanding of psychology around the world.

Since Emmy Werner and her team discovered on the Hawaiian island of Kauai the “invincible” children who fared well despite exposure to significant household risks, there has been proliferating research on child resilience as a positive response to adverse conditions. The past five decades have seen significant advancements in, and diverse approaches to understanding challenges, facilitative factors, and positive outcomes in the resilience process that involve children. Despite existing and continuously emerging modelings and framings, there appears a common understanding that child resilience unfolds through the interactions between individuals and the environments surrounding them. This Research Topic, therefore, takes an ecological approach to child resilience. While ecologies constitute social spaces that nurture child resilience, they can also refer to the “physical” environments surrounding children. There has been robust empirical evidence suggesting resilience is a shared capacity of the individual and the social ecology (e.g., families, schools, and communities), and more recently of the individual and the physical ecology (e.g., the built or natural environment).