Final answer:
Social status is not one of the six elements of psychological well-being identified by Ryff and her colleagues. Instead, Ryff’s model includes autonomy, personal growth, self-acceptance, life purpose, mastery, and positive relatedness as its core elements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ryff and her colleagues identified six elements that fundamentally support psychological well-being, and the correct answer to the question of which element is not included is: a. Social status. The six factors that Ryff and her team delineated are: autonomy, personal growth, self-acceptance, life purpose, mastery, and positive relatedness. While it is recognized that social status may impact stress and health and thus indirectly affect well-being, it is not one of the fundamental elements in Ryff's model of psychological well-being. Moreover, Ryff's research suggests that psychological well-being is multifaceted and influenced by various psychosocial health needs. This includes the quality of social relationships, sense of control, and opportunities for personal growth and involvement. Although not easily measurable, these psychosocial aspects are considered to be as important to individual well-being as physical health needs.