Dimensions of Health Health is made up of a number of interacting dimensions.

Dimensions of Health (cont.) There are 5 dimensions of health that are considered when measuring ones level of health and wellness, these dimensions include: Physical Health Social Health Emotional/Mental Health Cognitive/Intellectual Health Spiritual Health

Dimensions of Health (cont.) Physical Health Physical health is best described as the efficient functioning of the body. It’s the body’s capacity to participate in everyday activities and the absence of signs of disease, such as asthma, epilepsy or diabetes. This dimension includes characteristics such as body size and shape, level of fitness, energy level, weight and ability to recover from illness.

Dimensions of Health (cont.) Social Health Social health refers to the ability to form and maintain satisfying interpersonal relationships. It includes the ability to relate to parents, teachers and friends in a way that is accepted by our community. It also involves being able to accept standards of behaviour (such as waiting in a queue) and interacting positively in group situations.

Emotional/Mental Health Dimensions of Health (cont.) Emotional/Mental Health Emotional/Mental health refers to the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity. It also includes a knowledge and acceptance of one’s feelings and emotions, the ability to manage stress in an appropriate manner, the ability to be resilient in tough times and having a well-developed sense of self.

Cognitive/Intellectual Health Dimensions of Health (cont.) Cognitive/Intellectual Health Cognitive/intellectual health includes being able to access, process and use knowledge to assist in decision making, reasoning, weighing up the consequences of actions, life planning and career development.

Dimensions of Health (cont.) Spiritual Health Spiritual health involves finding a purpose and meaning to life. While it can include a belief in a higher being, it can simply mean having a sense of one’s self as part of a bigger picture and is closely related to one’s personal value system. It often involves finding a sense of inner peace or strength, a connection with nature, or optimism for the future.

Dimensions of Health (cont.) The key to good health is exercising each of the dimensions and maintaining a balance between them. Balancing the different dimensions of one’s health may not necessarily mean devoting equal time and energy to each dimension but rather combining them in such a way that a person gains an overall sense of wellbeing (feelings of happiness, contentment and satisfaction). Many health-enhancing behaviours that a person can incorporate into their lifestyle fall into each of the dimensions of health (see table on next slide and handout).

Dimensions of Health (cont.)

Dimensions of Health (cont.) Activity Explain each of the dimensions of health and provide examples of good health to illustrate each area. (5 lines for each). Physical health Social health Mental/emotional health Cognitive/intellectual health Spiritual health

Relative and Dynamic Nature of Health Relative Nature of Health Relative means in relation to another period of time, in relation to your potential or in relation to others. One person’s description of good health might be quite different to the description of another persons. For example: A child with asthma enjoys a healthy, active lifestyle but experiences events that a non-asthmatic child might interpret as restrictive on health.

Dynamic Nature of Health Dynamic refers to the constant fluctuations that occur in our level of health. Our health is never static (remaining the same). Our health varies over time, fluctuating from minute to minute, day to day, year to year. Illness, accidents, personal experiences or environmental factors can move our level of health any number of time during our lives from very well to well, off-colour to ill, very unwell to critically ill and then back to full health. These changes are known as dynamic.

Relative and Dynamic Nature of Health (cont.) Health Continuum The health continuum ‘measures’ our health status at any moment in time. We are continually moving along this continuum. It enables us to rank our level of wellness or illness at any given point in our lives.

Activity Referring to the dynamic nature of health, and the dimensions of health, explain why health may be viewed as a continuum. (10 lines)