THE ENHANCEMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLNESS - CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Developed the concept of psychological wellness and made the case that proportionally more resources should be directed to the pursuit of th is goal. Five pathways to wellness are considered, implicating aspects of individual development and the impact of contexts, settings, and p olicies. The five pathways are: forming wholesome early attachments; a cquiring age- and ability-appropriate competencies; engineering settin gs that promote adaptive outcomes; fostering empowerment; and acquirin g skills needed to cope effectively with life stressors. Although thes e noncompeting pathways have differential salience at different ages a nd for different groups and life conditions, each is an essential elem ent in any comprehensive social plan to advance wellness. Examples of effective programs are cited in all five areas, including recent compr ehensive, long-term programs embodying multiple pathways to wellness.