Harmony beyond Hedonia and Eudaimonia: Structure of Well-being Dimensions

Introduction: Recent advances in well-being research emphasize its multifaceted nature, traditionally defined by hedonic and eudaimonic approaches. However, growing cross-cultural and empirical studies suggest this dichotomy may be insufficient to capture the diversity and complexity of human flourishing. This study investigates harmony as a distinct and essential dimension of well-being beyond life satisfaction and meaning in life. Methods: Drawing on culturally diverse samples–U.S. adults ( n = 320, median age = 45) and Hong Kong university students ( n = 353, median age = 21)–assessed with identical measures (satisfaction with life scale, presence of meaning subscale, and life harmony scale), this preregistered study applied confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) to compare one-, two-, and three-factor models encompassing life satisfaction, meaning in life, and life harmony. Results: Across both samples, the three-factor ESEM provided a better fit than alternative models (U.S. sample: comparative fit index CFI =0.996, Tucker–Lewis index TLI =0.987, root mean square error of approximation RMSEA =0.043; Hong Kong sample: CFI = 0.977, TLI = 0.931, RMSEA = 0.078), supporting a tripartite model of well-being. Harmony correlated moderately with life satisfaction and meaning, suggesting it functions as a related yet distinct dimension of well-being. Conclusion: The findings provide empirical evidence for the unique contribution of harmony alongside life satisfaction and meaning. This underscores the importance of expanding well-being frameworks to include culturally sensitive constructs and suggests a more inclusive and integrative approach to conceptualizing and operationalizing well-being, one that moves beyond the hedonia–eudaimonia dichotomy and opens new directions for well-being research, measurements, and interventions.