The PERMA framework, developed by Martin Seligman (2011) and colleagues, identifies five core dimensions of wellbeing observed across cultures and contexts. Each captures a different way people thrive:
P – Positive Emotions: Experiencing joy, gratitude, hope, and other good feelings. These matter, but are only one piece of the wellbeing puzzle.
E – Engagement: Deep involvement or “flow” in activities—whether work, play, or love—that absorb attention and bring fulfillment (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990).
R – Relationships: Nurturing positive, supportive connections that sustain individuals and communities, and form the heart of trauma-informed practice.
M – Meaning: Finding purpose and significance in life, often one of the strongest contributors to lasting wellbeing (Adler & Fagley, 2005).
A – Achievement: Experiencing progress and accomplishment, from major life milestones to everyday successes, both big and small.
Since the development of the original PERMA model, 4 new dimensions of wellbeing have been added with substantial support from the data. These include: physical health, mindset, environment, and economic security (Cabrera & Donaldson, 2024): Physical health refers to the presence of biological, functional, and psychological assets. The mindset that correlates with wellbeing encompasses a future orientation, perseverance and grit, and a growth mindset. Environment refers to physical aspects of one’s environment, especially in regard to the work environment. Environmental attributes that contribute to wellbeing include access to nature, natural light, and physical safety. Finally, economic security refers to the perception of having the financial security to meet one’s own needs. Cabrera and Donaldson note the PERMA+4 model has been robustly tested as a predictor of both subjective wellbeing and positive work outcomes including turnover reductions and increased adaptivity, proactivity, and proficiency (p. 511).
Over the past 5 years, we have been working with this approach to wellbeing in considering how to better support public library staff so they can build the resilience necessary to survive and thrive through adversity. We'd love to connect to talk more about our work! Contact us at the lab to learn more.