ವಿಶ್ವೇಶ್ವರಯ್ಯ ತಾಂತ್ರಿಕ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯ
Scientific Foundations of Health
(Health & Welness) - 21SFH29
Course objectives:
The course 21SFH29 will enable the students :
· To know about Health and wellness (and its Beliefs)
· To acquire Good Health & It’s balance for positive mindset
· To Build the healthy lifestyles for good health for their better future
· To Create of Healthy and caring relationships to meet the requirements of MNC and LPG world
· To learn about Avoiding risks and harmful habits in their campus and outside the campus for their
bright future
- To Prevent and fight against harmful diseases for good health through positive mindset
Module-1
Good Health and It’s balance for positive mindset:
What is Health, Why is Health Very Important Now? – What influences your Health?, Health
and Behaviour, Health beliefs and advertisements, Advantages of good health (Short term
and long term benefits), Health and Society, Health and family, Health and Personality -
Profession. Health and behaviour, Disparities of health in different vulnerable groups.
Health and psychology, Methods to improve good psychological health. Psychological
disorders (Stress and Health - Stress management), how to maintain good health,
Mindfulness for Spiritual and Intellectual health, Changing health habits for good health.
Health and personality.
Module-2
Building of healthy lifestyles for better future:
Developing a healthy diet for good health, Food and health, Nutritional guidelines for good
health and well beingness, Obesity and overweight disorders and its management, Eating
disorders - proper exercises for its maintenance (Physical activities for health), Fitness
components for health, Wellness and physical function,
How to avoid exercise injuries.
Module-3
Creation of Healthy and caring relationships :
Building communication skills (Listening and speaking), Friends and friendship -
education, the value of relationships and communication, Relationships for Better or
worsening of life, understanding of basic instincts of life (more than a biology), Changing
health behaviours through social engineering,
Module-4
Avoiding risks and harmful habits :
Characteristics of health compromising behaviors, Recognizing and avoiding of
addictions, How addiction develops and addictive behaviors, Types of addictions,
influencing factors for addictions, Differences between addictive people and non addictive
people and their behavior with society, Effects and health hazards from addictions Such
as..., how to recovery from addictions.
Module-5
Preventing and fighting against diseases for good
health :
Process of infections and reasons for it, How to protect from different types of transmitted
infections such as…., Current trends of socio economic impact of reducing your risk of
disease, How to reduce risks for good health, Reducing risks and coping with chronic
conditions, Management of chronic illness for Quality of life, Health and Wellness of youth:
a challenge for the upcoming future Measuring of health and wealth status.
Course outcome (Course Skill Set)
At the end of the course the student will be able :
CO 1: To understand Health and wellness (and its Beliefs)
CO 2: To acquire Good Health & It’s balance for positive mindset
CO 3: To inculcate and develop healthy lifestyle habits for good health.
CO 4: To Create of Healthy and caring relationships to meet the requirements of MNC
and LPG world
CO 5: To adopt innovative & positive methods to avoid risks from harmful habits in their
campus & outside the campus.
CO 6: To positively fight against harmful diseases for good health through a positive
mindset.
Assessment Details (both CIE and SEE)
(methods of CIE need to be defined topic wise i.e.- MCQ, Quizzes, written test, Reports writing,
Seminar and activities). The CIE needs to be conducted for 20 marks. The weight age of
Continuous Internal Evaluation (CIE) is 50% and for Semester End Exam (SEE) is 50%. The
student has to obtain a minimum of 40% marks individually both in CIE and 35% marks in SEE
to pass. MCQ Pattern (Multiple Choice Questions) Semester End Exam (SEE) is conducted for 30
marks (60 minutes duration). Based on this grading will be awarded.
Continuous Internal Evaluation (CIE) :
1. Continuous internal evaluation (CIE) needs to be conducted for 20 marks like Engineering
courses - without any changes as per the University scheme and regulation (Modifications are
not allowed).
2. Methods suggested: Quizzes, written quizzes and tests, Reports writing, Seminar and
activities).
3. The class teacher has to decide the topic for the closed book test, Written Quiz, and
Seminar. In the beginning, only the teacher has to announce the methods of CIE for the
subject.
Semester End Examination (SEE) :
MCQ Pattern (Multiple Choice Questions) Semester End Exam (SEE) is conducted for 30
marks (60 minutes / 01 Hour duration).
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Module-1
Good Health and It’s balance for positive mindset:
What is Health, Why is Health Very Important Now? – What influences your Health?, Health
and Behaviour, Health beliefs and advertisements, Advantages of good health (Short term
and long term benefits), Health and Society, Health and family, Health and Personality -
Profession. Health and behaviour, Disparities of health in different vulnerable groups.
Health and psychology, Methods to improve good psychological health. Psychological
disorders (Stress and Health - Stress management), how to maintain good health,
Mindfulness for Spiritual and Intellectual health, Changing health habits for good health.
Health and personality.
Physical fitness is not the sole basis of being healthy; being healthy means being mentally
and emotionally fit. Being healthy should be part of your overall lifestyle. Living a healthy
lifestyle can help prevent chronic diseases and long-term illnesses. Feeling good about
yourself and taking care of your health are important for your self-esteem and self-image.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle by doing what is right for your body.
What is Health :
What is the Definition of Health?
Health can be defined as a state of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual well being, which consists
in maintaining the body as much as possible by following daily advice and preventive measures to reduce the
possibility of diseases.
Health has an important role in feeling happy, as there are many people who suffer from diseases, but the
health enables them to fight diseases, as a result, they achieve physical fitness and feel comfortable or enjoy
life like any normal person.
Health and Wellness :
People often use the terms health and wellness interchangeably. Although a person cannot have
one and not the other, they are two different concepts that are quite variable, and their meanings
are different.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and
social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (illness).”
WHO defines wellness as “the optimal state of health of individuals and groups,” and wellness is
expressed as “a positive approach to living.”
The primary difference between health and wellness is that health is the goal and wellness is the
active process of achieving it. You truly cannot have health without first achieving wellness.
Wellness has a direct influence on overall health, which is essential for living a robust, happy, and
fulfilled life.
Health versus wellness :
While you cannot choose the state of health, you can consciously choose wellness by living your
life responsibly and taking proactive steps for your well-being.
● Health comprises the diagnosis of a disease/illness, predisposition to a disease, and any
unexpected injury.
● Wellness is an active process of growth and change to reach your fullest health and
well-being. It is associated with actively pursuing activities, making choices and lifestyle
changes, controlling risk factors that can harm a person, focusing on nutrition, having a
balanced diet, and following spiritual practices that lead to holistic health.
Risk factors are actions or conditions that increase a person’s risk of illness or injury. Some of the
risk factors that can be harmful to good health are as follows:
● Smoking: It is a major risk factor for lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
● Drinking alcohol: It can cause liver damage, stroke, heart diseases, and cancer.
● Unprotected sex: It spreads sexually transmitted diseases including human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
● Extreme physical activity/sports: This may lead to broken bones and other types of injuries.
How many dimensions of wellness
are there?
Wellness is more than just physical health; it is holistic and multidimensional. It comprises six
dimensions that include physical, intellectual, emotional, environmental, social, and spiritual
wellness.
1. Physical: Physical wellness increases physical fitness—by being physically fit, a person
would have an enhanced ability to prevent illness and diseases. Exercise stimulates a
healthy mind and body. A sedentary lifestyle can be avoided by increasing physical activity
in everyday life such as walking, cycling, walking the dog, taking the steps, and hiking.
Having good nutrition, eating a balanced diet, drinking sufficient water (eight glasses per
day), and getting adequate sleep promotes a person’s physical wellness.
2. Intellectual: Mental exercise and engagement through learning, problem-solving, and
creativity support intellectual wellness and promote a better attitude. People who learn new
things and challenge their mind can avoid mental health problems.
3. Emotional: A person with emotional wellness can deal with stressful situations. A person
who is aware of their own feelings has good self-esteem, and has empathy toward others’
feelings would have emotional wellness.
4. Environmental: Awareness of the role we play in improving our natural environment rather
than denigrating it and maintaining and living in a healthy physical environment free of
hazards promotes wellness.
5. Social: Social circles and support networks are invaluable to the overall well-being of a
person. Relating, interacting, and contributing to a community, establishing good
interpersonal relations, and maintaining long-term relationships with family and friends keep
a person happier and healthier.
6. Spiritual: Spiritual wellness does not imply religion or faith of a person, but the search for
meaning and purpose of human existence. Developing compassion, caring, forgiving, and
having a purpose in life help in spiritual wellness. This can be achieved through meditation,
volunteer work, spending time in nature, etc.
According to WHO principles - What is Health :
● Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity.
● The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights
of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social
condition.
● The health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security and is
dependent on the fullest cooperation of individuals and States.
● The achievement of any State in the promotion and protection of health is of value to all.
● Unequal development in different countries in the promotion of health and control of
diseases, especially communicable disease, is a common danger.
● Healthy development of the child is of basic importance; the ability to live harmoniously in a
changing total environment is essential to such development.
● The extension to all peoples of the benefits of medical, psychological and related
knowledge is essential to the fullest attainment of health.
● Informed opinion and active co-operation on the part of the public are of the utmost
importance in the improvement of the health of the people.
● Governments have a responsibility for the health of their peoples which can be fulfilled only
by the provision of adequate health and social measures.
Types of Health :
Mental and physical health are probably the two most frequently discussed types of health.
Spiritual, emotional, and financial health also contribute to overall health. Medical experts
have linked these to lower stress levels and improved mental and physical well-being.
People with better financial health, for example, may worry less about finances and have
the means to buy fresh food more regularly. Those with good spiritual health may feel a
sense of calm and purpose that fuels good mental health.
Health inequities affect all of us differently. Visit our dedicated hub for an in-depth look at
social disparities in health and what we can do to correct them.
Physical health
A person who has good physical health is likely to have bodily functions and processes
working at their peak.
This is not only due not only to an absence of disease. Regular exercise, balanced nutrition,
and adequate rest all contribute to good health. People receive medical treatment to
maintain the balance, when necessary.
Physical well-being involves pursuing a healthful lifestyle to decrease the risk of disease.
Maintaining physical fitness, for example, can protect and develop the endurance of a
person’s breathing and heart function, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition.
Looking after physical health and well-being also involves reducing the risk of an injury or
health issue, such as:
● minimizing hazards in the workplace
● using contraception when having sex
● practicing effective hygiene
● avoiding the use of tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs
● taking the recommended vaccines for a specific condition or country when traveling
Good physical health can work in tandem with mental health to improve a person’s overall
quality of life.
For example, mental illness, such as depression, may increase the risk of drug use
disorders, according to a 2008 study
Trusted Source
. This can go on to adversely affect physical health.
Mental health
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services,
Trusted Source :
mental health refers to a person’s emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Mental
health is as important as physical health as part of a full, active lifestyle.
It is harder to define mental health than physical health because many psychological
diagnoses depend on an individual’s perception of their experience.
With improvements in testing, however, doctors are now able to identify some physical
signs of some types of mental illness in CT scans and genetic tests.
Good mental health is not only categorized by the absence of depression, anxiety, or
another disorder. It also depends on a person’s ability to :
● enjoy life
● bounce back after difficult experiences and adapt to adversity
● balance different elements of life, such as family and finances
● feel safe and secure
● achieve their full potential
Physical and mental health have strong connections. For example, if a chronic illness
affects a person’s ability to complete their regular tasks, it may lead to depression and
stress. These feelings could be due to financial problems or mobility issues.
A mental illness, such as depression or anorexia, can affect body weight and overall
function.
It is important to approach “health” as a whole, rather than as a series of separate factors.
All types of health are linked, and people should aim for overall well-being and balance as
the keys to good health.
Why Health so important Now?
Importance of Good Health in Human Life :
Health is the body's functional and metabolic efficiency, and its ability to adapt to the physical, mental, and
social changes that it is exposed to.
Health is the opposite of disease, and also means the safety of the body from physical, social, and mental
disorders.
Health is the factor that helps a person perform his daily life tasks in a correct and right way.
A person's physical health means that the body does not have any diseases in all parts of his body, and the
safety of all its membranes.
While mental and social health is represented by the ability of a person to accomplish social tasks entrusted
to him without defect or error.
The importance of good health in a person’s life is undoubtedly great.
How we can achieve good health and well-being. Let's start!
➤A healthy person is a person who is able to serve himself, his nation and his community.
An unhealthy person who suffers from illness sees him weak and meager, unable to properly carry out the
duties and responsibilities incumbent on him.
When the disease develops, the person becomes dependent on other people and cannot meet his different
needs in life, which affects his psyche as well due to his sense of helplessness and weakness.
Society is also affected by the presence of the disease among its members, as the productivity of these
patients weakens and they become dependent on society.
As for the presence of healthy individuals in society, this means the presence of productive individuals who
possess the power and the ability to give and serve.
➤The importance of health for a person is that it saves him the costs of treatment and the hassle of going to
hospitals.
A healthy person who is far from the disease sees him saving money that he would have spent on the disease
if he neglected his health, so it is always said that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".
You see many governments that are exposed to the spread of epidemics and diseases among their members
spend a large part of the money to buy medications to treat these cases.
You also see governments and societies that are concerned with the safety of their people focusing on aspects
of prevention and health guidance.
➤Psychologically healthy people feel comfortable and happy in their lives and enjoy life well.
A person who suffers from mental illnesses always sees him as a gloomy and pessimist and does not feel
happy in his life and in his relationships with people.
While you see a healthy person enjoying happiness in his life, establishing his relationships with people and
showing love, kindness, and intimacy.
Finally, a person must consider many matters and behaviors in life in order to avoid diseases that interfere
with his life and to know that illness may be part of the many trials that a person is exposed to.
Staying healthy has never been so important as the need to remain in good health can have a
positive effect on almost every aspect of our lives. Staying fit can be done in a variety of ways,
including eating lean and healthy meats along with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Spending a little
time each day exercising can help us all to become healthy and avoid the modern blight of obesity.
1. Helps You Live Longer
This is one of the most obvious benefits of living a healthy lifestyle and is one of the main reasons
why most people look to exercise and eat a healthy diet. For those determined to get the most out
of their body in terms of longevity, there is a whole host of evidence that links staying healthy with
longer life. One study went so far as to estimate the link between only drinking alcohol in
moderation, not smoking, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet can extend your life by up
to 14 years.
2. Feel Better About Yourself
One of the main reasons why staying healthy can be of assistance to your life as you grow older.
One of the main benefits is that living a healthy lifestyle can make you feel more confident than
ever before. Exercising can release hormones to your brain that enhance your mood and provide
you with a sense of euphoria.
3. Life Insurance is Cheaper
One of the primary considerations you will have when you grow older is the need to purchase life
insurance to protect your family in the event of your death. You may be you like term life insurance
vs whole life insurance policies, but whichever you choose, you will face lower premiums when you
live a healthy lifestyle.
4. Control Your Stress
The modern world we live in is undoubtedly stressful, with the ability to switch off from work being
a significant problem. One of the issues facing us is how to handle stress with exercise. Those who
live a healthy lifestyle have been proven in clinical studies to have lower levels of stress and
anxiety.
5. Avoid Addictions
No matter what kind of addiction you are affected by, a healthy lifestyle filled with exercise can
limit your desire for the addictive substance. Whether your vice of choice is food, drugs, or alcohol,
you will find a runner’s high just as addictive.
6. Protect your Sight
This may not be a well-known aspect of living a healthy lifestyle, but your eyesight can be protected
by a healthy diet and a proper diet. Better vision as we age can be obtained with regular
cardiovascular exercise.
7. Lower Medical Costs
This may seem like a no-brainer, but by staying healthy, your medical bills will be significantly lower.
Lower medical costs will often lead to fewer debts and a higher credit score.
8. Increase your Fertility
If you are looking for a fertile future with lots of children, the gym is the place to go. Studies
conducted by Harvard University researchers showed a higher sperm level among males who
exercised regularly.
9. Consider your Self-Esteem
When you exercise regularly, you will usually find you look and feel better, leading to a rise in your
confidence. Higher self-esteem can lead to a more satisfying life.
10. Become a Good Example
Exercising regularly and living a healthy lifestyle will rub off on those around you. When your
children and grandchildren see you exercising and eating healthily, they will be more likely to follow
your example.
How can You Achieve Good Health and Well Being?
The following ways can help you achieve good health and well-being:
Eat healthy meals:
What you eat is closely related to your health. Eating a healthy diet can help boost your immune systems,
help you maintain a healthy weight and can improve your overall health.
Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet:
Include fruits, vegetables, grain products, leafy greens, salmon, etc. in your diet. Adding fruits and
vegetables is an ideal basis to start a healthy routine.
Drink a lot of water:
Drinking a lot of water keeps muscles and joints working, increases the amount of water in your blood,
promotes healthy skin and cardiovascular health and helps cleanse toxins from your body.
You can save a lot of money and improve your health by drinking water all day.
Get regular exercise:
Do a moderate workout for at least 30 minutes a day, as exercise can help prevent heart disease, stroke, colon
cancer, and diabetes.
Lose your extra weight:
Lose weight if you are overweight. If you want to lose extra weight, you have to reduce the number of
calories you consume, so you have to become a good record-keeper.
If you are obese, losing weight can mean "less heart disease, less cancer and less diabetes.
Wash your hands before eating a meal:
Hand washing before eating is a good habit and an effective way to prevent infection.
If you eat something without washing your hands, it is possible that the bacteria and germs that remain on
your fingers and palms can be moved into your mouth.
This can affect your overall health and cause diseases and infections.
Protect your skin:
Your skin is the first layer of defense in the body, and you need to protect it. In summer, a lot of sunlight is
very harmful to your skin cells because UV rays damage or even kill your skin cells.
In winter, fluctuations, redness, allergies and irritation are common skin diseases among many of us.
Cold temperatures and low humidity levels create dry air that pulls moisture away from the skin. Therefore,
protect your skin in both seasons.
Get enough sleep:
Sleep plays an important role in good health and well-being throughout your life because it enables the body
to repair and be fit and ready for another day.
Getting enough sleep at the right times may help prevent physical health problems such as excess weight
gain, heart disease, protect your mental health issues and improve your quality of life and safety.
Prevent substance abuse:
Avoid smoking, tobacco, alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks. Smoking, alcohol, and tobacco consumption
are harmful to your health, so avoid such things as soon as possible.
When you quit, you will greatly reduce the risk of death from lung cancer and other life-threatening diseases
such as heart disease, stroke, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, etc.
Make your lifestyle choices better:
You can understand what you should do to enjoy a healthy, happy life.
Poor lifestyle choices contribute significantly to the development and progression of preventable chronic
diseases.
Improve your lifestyle, adopt healthy lifestyle choices and create good and healthy habits so that you can
make healthy changes in your life.
Carve out time to exercise and find a way to ratchet down stress and depression.
What influences your Health :
Health begins where we live, work, learn, and play — long before we visit the doctor’s
office or walk in our local pharmacies. Our health is largely determined by the social,
economic, cultural, and physical environments we live in — everything from where we
work and live to our level of education and our access to healthy food and water.
These conditions are known as social determinants of health: the social and economic
resources — such as housing, education, food access, and transportation — that support
health and can determine length and quality of life.3 Too often, access to these
health-determining resources remains outside of individuals’ control. Many health
inequities experienced by communities of color, low-income individuals, and other
vulnerable populations are due to the lack of appropriate distribution of social resources,
rooted in a history of discrimination at the individual, institutional, and structural levels.
These social and economic factors have a significant impact on individual and
community-level health. The image below shows how range of factors that impact
health:
Other factors affecting health
There are many different factors that can affect your health.
These include things like housing, financial security, community safety, employment, education and
the environment. These are known as the wider determinants of health.
Social exclusion
People can feel socially excluded for a number of different reasons. Factors may include poverty,
old age, mental ill-health or a physical or learning disability.
This exclusion can have an effect on their health and ability to fulfil their full potential. We’re
working hard to tackle social exclusion and help make health fairer for everyone.
Housing
Poor quality housing can have a huge impact on health. It can make existing health conditions
worse, cause injuries and prevent people from reaching their full potential.
Education
Helping young people achieve their potential from an early age, including getting qualifications
plays a vital role in making sure they are healthy in later life.
Employment
Employment plays a big role in health as it provides financial stability, promotes independence and
is known to protect against physical and mental health problems. We’re working to provide people
with as much support to get into work as possible.
We’re also working with local employers to help them improve the health and wellbeing of
employees as part of our new Healthy Workplaces scheme.
Planning
Good local planning can actively support the health of individuals and the communities in which
they live, work and play. Read more about active design at Sport England.
Transport
In a largely rural community like Derbyshire, transport plays an important role in helping people get
to school, work and leisure facilities, as well as health services.
While most people have access to a car, some people don't and therefore public transport plays an
important role in connecting people.
Health impact assessments (HIA)
To look at the impacts that wider determinants have on health, we carry out health impact
assessments on a range of different topics.
HIA consider any proposed changes in the local area that may impact on people’s health and
wellbeing.
Many things affect wellness :
They are body, mind, environment, spirit, community, emotions, finances and work.
Each can affect your quality of life.
Struggles in one aspect can affect other aspects. For example, your finances might affect
how you feel you can succeed socially. Or your work may suffer if your mind is not
challenged. Take time to focus on each area of your health everyday
About wellbeing
Wellbeing is not just the absence of disease or illness. It’s a complex combination of a
person's physical, mental, emotional and social health factors. Wellbeing is strongly linked
to happiness and life satisfaction. In short, wellbeing could be described as how you feel
about yourself and your life.
Health and Behaviour :
Health behavior refers to actions that an individual engages in that affect their health
either positively or negatively. These can be simple personal choices like hand
washing or more complex situations like choosing to live in an area with high air
pollution. Within the context of occupational health and safety, health behavior relates
to how an employee behaves affecting health and safety and the influences of
employer behaviors or programs upon employee health.
Health behaviors, sometimes called health-related behaviors, are actions taken by individuals that
affect health or mortality. These actions may be intentional or unintentional, and can promote or
detract from the health of the actor or others. Actions that can be classified as health behaviors are
many; examples include smoking, substance use, diet, physical activity, sleep, risky sexual
activities, health care seeking behaviors, and adherence to prescribed medical treatments.
Health behaviors are frequently discussed as individual-level behaviors, but they can be measured
and summarized for individuals, groups, or populations. Health behaviors are dynamic, varying
over the lifespan, across cohorts, across settings, and over time. With smoking in the U.S, for
example, the likelihood of initiation varies with age. Recent cohorts of adults are less likely to
smoke than those in the mid-1900s, smoking prevalence is higher in the south than in the west, and
smoking became less common after the Surgeon General’s Report of 1964.
Health behaviors are actions individuals take that affect their health. They include actions
that lead to improved health, such as eating well and being physically active, and actions
that increase one’s risk of disease, such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and risky
sexual behavior.
In the United States, many of the leading causes of death and disease are attributed to
unhealthy behaviors. For example, poor nutrition and low levels of physical activity are
associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
Tobacco use is associated with heart disease, cancer, and poor pregnancy outcomes if the
mother smokes during pregnancy. Excessive alcohol use is associated with injuries,
certain types of cancers, and cirrhosis.
It is important to consider that not everyone has the means and opportunity to make
healthy decisions. Policies and programs put in place have marginalized some population
groups and communities, keeping them from the supports and resources necessary to
thrive. Addressing health behaviors requires strategies to encourage individuals to engage
in healthy behaviors, as well as ensuring that they can access nutritious food, safe spaces
to be physically active, and support to make healthy choices.
In the Health Behaviors area of the County Health Rankings we look at:
● Tobacco Use, looking at the percentage of adult smokers.
● Diet & Exercise, giving information on access to healthy foods and exercise
opportunities.
● Alcohol & Drug Use, measuring excessive drinking and drug overdose deaths.
● Sexual Activity, showing rates of sexually transmitted infections and teen births.
Factors that influence wellbeing
Every aspect of your life influences your state of wellbeing. Researchers investigating
happiness have found the following factors enhance a person's wellbeing:
● Happy intimate relationship with a partner.
● Network of close friends.
● Enjoyable and fulfilling career.
● Enough money.
● Regular exercise.
● Nutritional diet.
● Enough sleep.
● Spiritual or religious beliefs.
● Fun hobbies and leisure pursuits.
● Healthy self-esteem.
● Optimistic outlook.
● Realistic and achievable goals.
● Sense of purpose and meaning.
● A sense of belonging.
● The ability to adapt to change.
● Living in a fair and democratic society.
Factors are interrelated
The factors that influence wellbeing are interrelated. For example, a job provides not just
money but purpose, goals, friendships and a sense of belonging. Some factors also make
up for the lack of others. For example, a good marriage can compensate for a lack of
friendships, while religious beliefs may help a person come to terms with physical illness.
Wealth is not the key
Money is linked to wellbeing because having enough money improves living conditions
and increases social status. However, happiness may increase with income but only to a
point.
Many people believe that wealth is a fast track to happiness. But it's not true. Various
international studies have shown that it’s the quality of our personal relationships, not the
size of our bank balance, which has the greatest effect on our state of wellbeing.
Believing that money is the key to happiness can also harm a person's wellbeing. For
example, a person who chooses to work a lot of overtime misses out on time with family,
friends and leisure activities.
The added stress of long working hours may also reduce a person's life satisfaction.
Research shows that people who chase 'extrinsic' goals like money and fame are more
anxious, depressed and dissatisfied than people who value 'intrinsic' goals like close
relationships with loved ones.
Wellbeing can be elusive
Wellbeing is important, but seems a little hard to come by. One American study into mental
health found that, while one in four respondents was depressed, only one in five was
happy – the rest fell somewhere between, neither happy nor depressed. An Australian
consumer study into well being showed that:
● 58% wish they could spend more time on improving their health and wellbeing.
● 79% of parents with children aged less than 18 years of age wish they could spend
more time on improving their health and wellbeing.
● 83% are prepared to pay more money for products or services that enhance their
feelings of wellbeing.
Measuring national wellbeing
Measuring wellbeing in a population is difficult because the interpretation of wellbeing is so
subjective – how you feel about your life largely depends on the way you see it. Like the
saying goes, one person's problem is another person's challenge. Australian researchers
try to measure wellbeing to keep tabs on living conditions. A typical approach to
measuring wellbeing is to count the number of individuals affected by a particular factor.
For example, it is helpful to keep track of how many people:
● Have cancer.
● Are single, married or divorced.
● Exercise on a regular basis.
● Smoke or drink.
● Are on unemployment benefits.
● Are victims of crime.
● Are unable to read or write.
Keeping track of a population's wellbeing helps governments to decide on particular
policies. For example, knowing the average weekly income of a population helps to set the
'poverty line', which may then influence decisions on social welfare reform.
Results depend on what is measured
Survey results tend to differ depending on what was measured. For example, an
Australian survey of young people found that eight in every 10 reported feeling satisfied
with their lives, including how they felt about their work, studies, income and relationships.
However, this positive picture is contradicted by another survey, which found that about
half of all young Australians are grappling with a difficult problem such as depression or
alcohol abuse. Wellbeing is an unclear concept that is hard to pin down with graphs, charts
and statistics.
How to achieve wellbeing
● Develop and maintain strong relationships with family and friends.
● Make regular time available for social contact.
● Try to find work that you find enjoyable and rewarding, rather than just working for
the best pay.
● Eat wholesome, nutritious foods.
● Do regular physical activity.
● Become involved in activities that interest you.
● Join local organisations or clubs that appeal to you.
● Set yourself achievable goals and work towards them.
● Try to be optimistic and enjoy each day.
