Holistic Well-being

Convenors:

Zoi Nikiforidou, University of Ioannina, Greece
Wilma Robles-Melendez, Nova Southeastern University, USA
Clionagh Boyle, Ulster University, UK and Ireland
Antoanneta Potsi, Bielefeld University, Germany

Purpose

The holistic well-being SIG aims to critically reflect on the concept of children’s well-being in a holistic, inclusive manner. This is timely due to the increased awareness and interest of practitioners, researchers and policy makers at a cross-national and global level in understanding children’s physical, mental, social, emotional, cognitive, spiritual and cultural well-being. It will foster research in a range of aspects including ESD in early childhood, child development, cross-cultural elements, policy, empowerment and agency and their synergy in examining children’s holistic well-being. The SIG welcomes international collaboration and innovative research.

Objectives

• The Holistic Well-being SIG aims to explore the following questions, amongst others:
• What do we mean by well-being?
• Why address well-being?
• What do we know about well-being from the perspective of children’s and human rights?
• How can we support the well-being of children and families in a holistic and inclusive manner?
• Do practitioners, researchers and policy makers understand children’s physical, mental, social, emotional, cognitive, spiritual and cultural well-being in the same way?
• What experiences influence children’s well-being?
• How can we advocate for the well-being of the children and their families?
• Are there universal measures of well-being?

News & Events

The SIG are organising a hybrid SIG meeting at EECERA 2026 in Madeira on Tuesday, 25th August 2026, from 14:00 to 16:00 (WEST).

More information to follow. For any questions regarding this or if you wish to book a place to attend, please contact the convenors.

Report

Click here to view the 2019-20 report (pdf) Babs Anderson, Zoi Nikiforidou & Wilma Robles-Melendez
Click here to view the 2018-19 report (pdf) Babs Anderson, Zoi Nikiforidou & Wilma Robles-Melendez
Click here to view the 2017-18 report (pdf) Babs Anderson, Zoi Nikiforidou & Wilma Robles-Melendez
Click here to view the 2016-17 report (pdf) Babs Anderson, Zoi Nikiforidou & Wilma Robles-Melendez