The Dimensions of Health
The dimensions of health are based on the definition of health given by Rene Dubos. He defines overall health as involving not only the biological aspect of a person but also their social interaction,
their intellect, spirituality, mental abilities, and their ability to adapt to their environment. Health is also defined as being a “dynamic, ever-changing process…” (Donatelle, 2011, p.3). A person can thrive to reach a place of good-health within each dimension, but when they thrive to reach a place of contentment overall that is defined as wellness. Although health and wellness are very similar and are often used interchangeably they are not the same. Health is constricted within a dimension; Wellness is overall involving all the dimensions intermingling with each other.
The “How Healthy Are You?” questionnaire is an assessment tool that assists individuals in developing a general idea of their health within each dimension. It helps give an idea of which dimensions could use improvement and which have “good health”. Knowing this information can help people identify how close they could be to health within a dimension, as well as, their overall wellness.
The scoring of the assessment is as follows:
35 to 40 is great. It shows that the person understands the importance of this particular dimension in their life. You are aware of the dimension and the role it plays. It does not pose a serious health risk.
30 to 35 is good. You have positive health practices within this dimension; however there is room for improvement. Reflect on areas or behaviors you can change.
20 to 30 is caution. If you score within this range this means that this dimension has the potential to become a health risk. You need to identify ways to improve in this dimension, use resources if necessary.
20 and below. If you score below 20 this means you need to be made aware of the importance of this dimension and its influence on your health.
For each of the dimensions I will note my own personal score on the "How Healthy Are You?" questionnairre.