Health and Wellness: A Conceptual Differentiation

Abstract

Confusion exists regarding the terms health and wellness. This article presents a conceptualization of health as consisting of social, mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical components; a conceptualization of wellness as the integration of these components; and a conceptualization of high-level wellness as the balance of these components. Implications of these conceptualizations for health education are presented. Iatrogenic health education disease is discussed and a distinction is made between health education and health indoctrination.

The Impact of an Interim Protection Order (Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998) on the Victims of Domestic Violence

“…Kenya, Somalia and Uganda have no domestic violence legislation either. General well-being is the integration or balance of all six dimensions of an individual, namely the physical, mental, emotional, social, vocational and spiritual dimensions, into a meaningful whole (Chandler et al, 1992;Coward & Reed, 1996;Greenberg, 1985;Wissing & Van Eeden, 2002). Potgieter (1998) conceptualises general well-being through the contextual paradigm, focusing on the individual within the different systems (on the micro-, meso-and macrolevels of existence) that interact with him/her.…”

“…General well-being is defined as the integration or the balance of the six dimensions of human functioning, namely the physical, mental, emotional, social, vocational and spiritual dimensions, into a meaningful whole (Chandler et al, 1992;Coward & Reed, 1996;Greenberg, 1985;Wissing & Van Eeden, 2002). There is growing evidence that spirituality is linked to general well-being, physical well-being and psychological well-being (Miller & Thoreson, 2003).…”

“…Well-being/wellness is the integration of six dimensions of human health, namely the physiological, mental, emotional, social, vocational and spiritual dimensions (Chandler et al, 1992;Coward & Reed, 1996;Greenberg, 1985;Wissing & Van Eeden, 2002). The changes in the general well-being of participants in the experimental and control groups with regard to the physiological, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions of general well-being, from the first to the second measurements, were assessed with the ADQ (McNamara, 1999) and the SHALOM (Gomez & Fisher, 2003).…”

“…Greenberg (1985) considers wellbeing/wellness as the integration of the six dimensions of human health, namely the physiological, mental, emotional, social, vocational and spiritual dimensions (Chandler et al, 1992;Coward & Reed, 1996;Wissing & Van Eeden, 2002), at any level of health or illness, into a meaningful whole.…”

“…These dimensions are interrelated and, when in balance, contribute to health and general well-being. Greenberg (1985) considers well-being/wellness as the integration of the six dimensions, at any level of health or illness, into a meaningful whole. Moberg (2002) supports this view and states that all aspects of an individual's life are interrelated.…”