Abstract This study examines the longitudinal relationship between well-being dimensions (evaluative, experiential and eudaimonic) and disability in a representative sample of non-institutionalized adults from the provinces of Madrid and Barcelona (Spain). A total of 1,441 adults were interviewed in 2019–2021 and 2023–2024. Evaluative well-being was measured with the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale, experiential WB (positive and negative affect) was assessed with a shortened version of the Day Reconstruction Method, eudaimonic WB (EWB) was measured with the Flourishing Scale, and disability with the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Generalized Estimating Equation models were used for analysis. The results show that not having lifetime depression was longitudinally associated with lower disability. Lower negative affect, lower positive affect, higher evaluative well-being, and higher EWB were longitudinally associated with lower disability over the follow-up period. This study provides longitudinal evidence on the importance of WB for disability. It was also found that EWB had the strongest association with disability, supporting its importance as a dimension that should be measured alongside other indicators to study the effect of well-being on disability. To mitigate the impact of disability, it would be important to promote WB and mental health by reducing underlying risk factors.
Godino-Cruz et al. (Wed,) studied this question.