2) Health and Well-being

[Highlights]      [Reading]      [Worksheets]      [Handouts]      [Assessment Tasks] 

Highlights

• State of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
• In further elaboration in 1984, health is:
  • the extent to which an individual or a group is able to realize aspirations and satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment
  • a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living
  • a positive concept, emphasizing social and personal resources as well as physical capabilities

• Physical health : related to the physical functioning of the human body
• Intellectual health : the ability to memorize, reason, analyze and make rational decisions
• Emotional health : the ability (1) to recognize and express emotions properly and (2) to cope with stress, worries and depression in daily life
• Social health : the ability to establish and maintain good relationships with others

• Demographic factors – age, gender, race and ethnicity etc.
• Social factors – social class, education, lifestyle, living environment, accessibility to service etc.
• Economic factors – employment rate, income and economy etc.
• Nutritional factors – balanced diet, eating habits, nutrient intake etc.
• Socio-biological factors – effects of parents’ over- and under estimation of children on the personal development etc.
• Psychobiological factors – hyperactivity and lack of concentration etc.
• Ecological factors – human activities, natural disasters etc.
• Globalization – spread of infectious diseases, western-style fast food etc.
• Technological advancement – screening and vaccination etc.

• Biological perspective – physical growth and development, biological defects
• Social perspective – interpersonal relationships, social support, influence of economic changes
• Psychological perspective – personality development, self-esteem and self-concept, emotional and mental health
• Spiritual perspective – personal / religious beliefs
• Ecological perspective – natural resources, pollution, global warming
• Cultural perspective – different attitudes on health and care, food culture and eating habits