{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T04:58:03Z","timestamp":1781672283873,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1781654400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Psychological flourishing is increasingly recognised as a multidimensional construct within contemporary positive psychology. It extends beyond the mere absence of psychopathology to encompass the active presence of positive functioning across emotional, cognitive, social, and existential dimensions. Despite decades of theoretical development and empirical investigation, a coherent integrative account of how flourishing unfolds, varies, and can be cultivated across the entire human lifespan remains elusive. This integrative review synthesizes theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence pertaining to psychological flourishing from early childhood through late adulthood. Drawing on major theoretical paradigms\u2014including Seligman\u2019s PERMA model, Keyes\u2019s Mental Health Continuum, VanderWeele\u2019s comprehensive framework, and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the article examines the distinctive flourishing challenges and opportunities at each developmental stage. Evidence from longitudinal and cross-sectional studies is integrated with intervention research to identify both universal and stage-specific determinants of flourishing. Implications for research, clinical practice, education policy, and public health are discussed.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1815314","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T04:47:34Z","timestamp":1781671654000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Understanding psychological flourishing across the lifespan: an integrative review of theory and evidence"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Wang","family":"Meiping","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology","place":["Maoming, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shamim","family":"Akhter","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"INTI International University","place":["Nilai, Malaysia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mengqiu","family":"Tan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology","place":["Maoming, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"414","DOI":"10.1186\/s40359-024-01909-0","article-title":"A PERMA model approach to well-being: a psychometric properties study. 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