Health and Wellness Chapter 1

Definitions and Dimensions of Health Health is the “capacity to lead a satisfying life, fulfill ambitions and accommodate to change” (Ottawa Charter, World Health Organization, 1986) Health is -Specific to persons life – it is personal -Dynamic, ever-changing process -Holistic, not simply the absence of disease -Related to quality of someone’s life -Multidimensional -Related to person’s ability to cope with the challenge of change

Dimensions of Health Health is multidimensional. The following are the dimensions of health. -Physical -Social -Mental -Environmental - Spiritual -Emotional

Dimensions of Health These dimensions are interdependent i.e., they interact and overlap with each other to produce health

Dimensions of Health As these dimensions interact they produce a unique health and wellness profile for each individual

Health and Wellness Adolescence Health and wellness is related to persons ability to cope with many interactions and transitions that are occurring in his/her life Transitions specific to adolescence include: -increase in autonomy and individually -increase in responsibilities -increase industry - intensification of relationships -changes in body structure

Health and Wellness in Adolescence Dimension of health that focus on transition might fall under three headings: -Being, e.g. Who am I? Who am I becoming as a person? -Belonging, e.g. To what group do I connect with in a sense of belonging -Becoming, e.g. What accomplishments am I striving for

Health and Wellness : A Personal Journey

Achievement of Health and Wellness Not a single event, it is an ongoing process Making health choices (e.g., good nutrition) are important guidelines to consider VS

Achievement of Health and Wellness Ultimately, it is up to each individual to choose what combination of healthy choices creates a healthy balance for them Remember, do things in moderation. Too much or too little of anything is a potential problem Example: Too little exercise = poor cardiovascular health Too much exercise = weakened immune system

Approaches to Health and Wellness Reactive or curative approach -worrying about your health only when sick. Not asserting control over your health in the absence of disease -Chris’ approach: “If your sick, take a few pills; otherwise, have fun and enjoy yourself! I’ll quit smoking later.”

Approaches to Health and Wellness Proactive approach -adopting lifestyle habits that, in the long run, will enable you to lead a more healthy life. -Erin’s approach: “I am building for the future. What I do for my body today lays the foundation for a lifetime of involvement in healthy activities.”

Wellness: Your Personal Responsibility Wellness is: -Reflected in a way a person chooses to live his or her life -Making informed choices and taking responsibilities for the way we live our lives. Sense of wellness is influenced by the following factors

Family Influences on Health and Wellness Family positively influences your health, well-being, and a general sense of satisfaction through: Education -The advice your parents give you to stay healthy -E.g. “Wear a coat outside or you’ll catch a cold” Values -Family values can influence lifestyle choices -E.g. Families that value physical activity introduce their children to sports at early age. Support -E.g. Emotional support during stressful life events -E.g. Financial and mental support to pursue sports that will enable optimal development

Negative Family Influences Alternatively, family can have negative influences on one’s health -E.g. Families that push their children to compete for rewards outside of the physical, mental, social, and spiritual benefits of activity, can cause their children to withdraw prematurely from participating in physical activity -Example: Parent Sideline Rage Aggressive parents are poor role models for their children

Media Influences on Health and Wellness

Positive Media Messages Media messages can be highly motivational: E.g. Sports coverage in the media has created role models that can motivate children to pursue physical activity

Negative Media Messages Unfortunately, media also has to power to encourage unhealthy choices: - E.g. Commercialization of the body image has distorted interpretation of healthy body

Ideal Female Body Image

Negative Media Messages Further, media has distorted interpretation of what it means to be an accomplished performer. -Media coverage has some believe that the pinnacle of achievement comes from beating the competition, being the toughest, and gaining multi-million contracts -However, wellness is about the journey towards personal improvement and aspiring to achieve your individual potential.

It’s Up To You!! In conclusion, images of the sporting life can be motivational or cause unhealthy distortions Ultimately, it is up to each individual to judge these images in relation to his or her personal goals and values.

Social/Peer Influences on Health and Wellness

Social/Peer Influences Participation in sport comes with social benefits incurred in meeting new people As we have seen in Chris’ example peer influences can be of negative nature Therefore, it is important to: -Choose friends wisely -Resist negative peer pressure

Cultural Influences on Health and Wellness

Health in North America Views about healthy are understood differently across cultures. North Americans tend to think about disease from a scientific point of view. -Western medicine deals largely with treatment of organs and systems, in isolation from the person’s mind and environment. -Increasingly, a more holistic approach is emerging.

Health in Eastern and Aboriginal Cultures In many non-western cultures, health has a strong spiritual quality. Therefore disease is understood in terms of individuals spiritual harmony with oneself and/or his or her environment

Putting it All Together Health is multidimensional One must make informed decision that relate to all the various dimensions of health Perspectives and decisions about health are influenced by family, peers, media and the culture The journey towards health is lifelong