Sustainable Well‐Being and the Sustainable Development Goals: A Systematic Review, Thematic Synthesis and Future Research Agenda

ABSTRACT

The growing global emphasis on sustainable development has intensified scholarly interest in the relationship between well‐being, sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, existing studies remain fragmented across social, economic, environmental and policy dimensions, limiting a comprehensive understanding of sustainable well‐being within the SDG framework. Addressing this gap, the present study systematically reviews and synthesises the literature on sustainable well‐being in the context of the SDGs. Using the PRISMA framework, 122 articles published between 2016 and 2026 were retrieved from the Scopus database and analysed using systematic literature review and science‐mapping techniques. The findings reveal a substantial increase in scholarly attention towards sustainable well‐being, particularly after 2020, reflecting its growing relevance in the sustainability discourse. The review further indicates that existing research predominantly focuses on SDG 3 (good health and well‐being), while several SDGs remain comparatively underexplored. The thematic synthesis further identifies three overarching themes: well‐being, sustainable development and sustainability. Based on the literature synthesis, the study proposes a multidimensional conceptual framework of sustainable well‐being within the SDG context. The study contributes by advancing sustainable well‐being as an integrative and multidimensional paradigm for achieving sustainable development and offers future research directions and policy implications for governments, institutions and sustainability practitioners.