Cross-cutting Themes Influencing Well-being and Well-becoming across the Life-course

Abstract

This chapter explores key cross-cutting themes that can influence well-being and well-becoming across the life-course, including: good work; our surroundings; money and resources; housing; education and skills; the food we eat; transport; and family, friends, and communities. These cross-cutting themes were chosen because they have been identified as protective factors and factors that can help individuals and society to maintain good health and well-being. The chapter examines some of the costs to society of health-harming and often addictive behaviours. Some examples of how economic evaluation has approached these areas to provide evidence of relative cost-effectiveness of interventions within and outside of the health sector are discussed. The chapter concludes with some curiosity questions for the reader to consider.