Disentangling Vitality, Well-Being, and Quality of Life: A Conceptual Examination Emphasizing Their Similarities and Differences With Special Application in the Physical Activity Domain

BACKGROUND: Given trends toward studying positive mental health in the behavioral sciences, the concepts of vitality, well-being, and quality of life (QoL) have received significant attention. Unfortunately, interpreting their empirical findings and applications is difficult given a tendency to use these terms synonymously and/or without clear apriori definitions. METHODS: This review presents an in-depth, critical examination of vitality, well-being, and QoL (especially health-related QoL) while paying particular attention to their similarities and differences. Given the proliferation of studies in the area of physical activity psychology, this review draws from a collection of knowledge in the physical activity domain to provide readers with concrete examples and to support arguments that are raised. RESULTS: The narrative content is divided into 3 sections with critical appraisals of each: definitions and meaning, theoretical views, and research, the latter of which is further subdivided into measurement and findings. Several parallels and discrepancies between the constructs are brought forward. CONCLUSIONS: Important arguments, among others, include the precision or specificity of the definition of vitality compared with well-being and QoL, and the emergence of a spectrum along which these constructs can be aligned with regards to the breadth of internal and external experiences they capture.