Chapter 1
Understanding Wellness
A Wellness Way of Life
Ninth Edition
Robbins/Powers/Burgess
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Chapter 1 Objectives
After reading this chapter, you will be able to:
1.
Identify the top three causes of death in the United States.
2.
Define healthy life expectancy and explain why it is low in the
United States compared with other industrialized countries.
3.
Name the largest contribution factor affecting longevity.
4.
Identify the four overarching goals of the publication Healthy
People 2010.
5.
List five lifestyle habits that can reduce the risk of chronic
disease and enhance wellness.
6.
Define wellness.
7.
Identify the seven dimensions of wellness and give three
examples within each dimension.
8.
List and describe the six factors that influence growth in
wellness.
9.
Give four examples of ways society supports wellness and
four examples of ways society detracts from wellness.
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Healthy Life Expectancy and the
Costs
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Healthy life expectancy is the number of years a person is
expected to live in good health.
Life expectancy in the US is 77.9 years (75.3 for men and 80.4
for women).
With the resources available, life expectancy should be higher.
Why does the US rank low in comparison to other industrialized
nations?
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Some specific groups in US have challenges
HIV epidemic in US
High tobacco use and cancer incidence
High rate of coronary heart disease
High rate of violence (homicide)
US spends more than twice as much for health care than does
any other nation. (Very little goes toward prevention!)
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Leading Causes of Death in US
All ages
1.
Heart disease
2.
Cancer
3.
Stroke
4.
Chronic respiratory diseases
5.
Accidents
6.
Alzheimer’s disease
7.
Diabetes mellitus
8.
Pneumonia and influenza
9.
Kidney disease
10. Systemic blood infections
Ages 15-24
1. Accidents (motor vehicle 26%)
2. Assault (Homicide)
3. Suicide
4. Cancer
5. Heart Disease
6. Congenital anomalies
7. Stroke
8. Pneumonia and influenza
9. Systemic blood infections
10. Chronic respiratory diseases
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Determinants of Health and Longevity
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There is a direct relationship between health behavior, quality of
life, and length of life.
Your lifestyle behaviors represent the most controllable
influence over your health.
The largest contributing factors
are: lifestyle behavior,
heredity, social circumstance,
medical care, and
environmental conditions.
This course is not designed to
judge you or your behavior but
to provide education, critical
thinking, and skill development.
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Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Factors Affecting Longevity
Figure1-1
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Lifestyle Practices that Enhance Wellness
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Exercise aerobically at least four to five times per week.
Eliminate all tobacco products.
Limit animal fats, cholesterol, trans fats, and saturated fats in
the diet.
Eat 5-9 daily servings of fruits and vegetables.
Assess personal stressors and practice stress management
techniques.
Limit the consumption of alcohol to no more than 1 (under 150
lbs) to 2 drinks per day (over 150 lbs).
Pursue and maintain a healthy weight.
Fasten seat belts – ALWAYS.
Practice safe sex habits or abstain from sexual behavior.
Balance work, social, and personal time, including getting 7 to
9 hours of sleep each night.
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Healthy People 2020
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Publication by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
Provides specific health goals and objectives for the nation to
improve health status and longevity (www.healthypeople.gov)
4 main goals:
1) Attain high quality, longer lives free of preventable disease,
disability, injury, and premature death.
2) Achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the
health of all groups.
3) Create social and physical environments that promote good
health for all.
4) Promote quality of life, health development and healthy
behaviors across all life stages.
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Understanding Risk
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To prevent disease and promote health, it is
important to identify factors that cause disease
and injury.
No one can promise that doing or refraining from
something will keep you safe or will kill you.
But, there are calculated risks and risk reduction
based on research.
Think beyond merely ‘risk avoidance’ toward
wellness.
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
High-level Wellness
Health – a state of complete physical, mental
and social wellbeing and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity. (WHO)
 Wellness – an integrated and dynamic level
of functioning oriented toward maximizing
potential, dependent on self-responsibility.
 Health Promotion – helping people change
their lifestyle, environment, and social norms
to move toward a state of optimal health.

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Wellness/Illness Continuum
Figure1-2
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Dimensions of Wellness
Physical dimension
 Intellectual dimension
 Emotional dimension
 Social dimension
 Spiritual dimension
 Environmental dimension
 Occupational dimension

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Physical dimension
The absence of disease and disability;
functional operation of the body.
The 5 health related components are:
 Cardiorespiratory endurance
 Muscular strength
 Muscular endurance
 Flexibility
 Body composition
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Intellectual Dimension
Maintaining an active mind contributes
to total well-being.
 Continually acquiring knowledge
throughout life.
 Engaging the mind in creative and
stimulating mental activities.
 Curiosity and learning never stop.

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Emotional Dimension
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Subjective sense of well-being: ability to
recognize and appropriately express a wide
range of emotions.
 Awareness: recognizing your feelings, as well
as the feelings of others.
 Acceptance: Understanding the normality of
human emotion and realistically assessing
personal abilities and limitations.
 Management: The ability to control or cope
with personal feelings and knowing how to
seek interpersonal support when necessary.
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Social Dimension

The ability to interact effectively with other
people, appreciate the uniqueness of
others, and feel connected to others.
 A genuine feeling of belonging to a social
unit.
 Exhibiting concern for the wellness of the
community and justice toward others.
 Supportive relationships have the power
to reduce risk, frequency, and severity of
illness and even promote healing.
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Spiritual Dimension
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Associated with the concept of self-actualization,
value systems, belief in a higher power, religious
expression, charity, and passion for life.
Personal search for
meaning and direction
in life.
Two questions to ask
yourself:
– Why am I here?
– What is my life about?
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
© Royalty-Free/Corbis
Environmental Dimension
The preservation of natural resources
as well as the protection of plant and
animal wildlife.
 Commitment to the protection of plant
and wildlife species, and to improving
the quality of the environment for future
generations.
 We must all take part in these efforts.
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© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Occupational Dimension
Deriving personal satisfaction from your
vocation.
 Maintaining a balance between work
and leisure.
 Working in an environment that
minimizes stress and exposure to
physical health hazards.
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© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Wellness is…
A continuous process
 A commitment
 Proactive
 A way of life
 An integration
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© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Growth in Wellness
Awareness
 Assessment
 Knowledge
 Self-Management Skills
 Motivation
 Support and Opportunity
 Self-Responsibility

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Factors Affecting Growth in Wellness
Figure1-3
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
What are Societal Norms?
Behaviors or practices that are
expected, accepted, or supported by
society.
 You can contribute by promoting “health
and wellness” as part of your societal
norm behavior via personal example.
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© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Rx for Action
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Schedule into your planner an exercise
“appointment” with yourself.
Read the entire front page of a major
newspaper.
Write down three positive wellness behaviors
you can do today. Then do them!
Do two anonymous good deeds for someone.
Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep tonight.
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
What Do You Think?
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What lifestyle habits are prime contributors to
death and disability?
What area of wellness is your biggest challenge?
What can YOU do to reduce your risk?
Is it difficult for you to make good lifestyle
choices? If so, how can you tackle the challenge?
“People are like stained-glass windows. They
sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when
the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed
only if there is a light from within.” (Kubler-Ross)
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Questions?
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.