A Delphi consensus study on the dimensions of positive mental health

The lack of a unified understanding of concepts like flourishing, positive mental health, and mental well-being across various fields impedes accurate measurement and effective policy development. In this study, researchers employed the Delphi method to foster expert consensus on a taxonomy that defines dimensions of positive mental health. A survey was conducted with 122 experts from 11 different disciplines over three rounds. Initially, participants assessed the relevance of 26 dimensions identified from previous reviews for inclusion in the taxonomy. Subsequent rounds allowed suggestions for additional dimensions and evaluations of whether these were drivers or outcomes of positive mental health. The study reached consensus (≥75% agreement) on 19 dimensions to be included in the preliminary taxonomy. Among these, six dimensions—’meaning and purpose’, ‘life satisfaction’, ‘self-acceptance’, ‘connection’, ‘autonomy’, and ‘happiness’—garnered over 90% agreement. The proposed taxonomy aims to standardize conceptual frameworks, enabling better interdisciplinary collaboration and addressing current fragmentation, which could significantly improve interventions and policy-making. [NPID: conceptual framework, positive mental health, flourishing, mental well-being, policy]

Year: 2026

Reference: Iasiello, M., Van Agteren, J., Ali, K., Kolovos, E., Batterham, P. J., Goodman, F., Jarden, A., Kashdan, T. B., Kyrios, M., Oades, L. G., Weziak-Bialowolska, D., & Fassnacht, D. B. (2026). A Delphi consensus study on the dimensions of positive mental health. Nature Mental Health, 4(5), 746-753. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-026-00617-5