Better Health for Individuals

Critical Question 1
What does health mean to individuals?

MEANINGS OF HEALTH

Syllabus dot points:

Students learn about:
● Meanings of health
- Definitions of health
- Dimensions of health
- Relative and dynamic nature of health
Students learn to:
● Examine the dynamic nature of health by exploring:
- The interactions between the dimensions
- The concept of good health
- The health continuum
- How health changes over time
- How an individual’s circumstances affect their health

Definitions of health
The concept of health is different to each individual. In 1946, World Health Organisation
(WHO) developed an acceptable definition of health and stated that health is “a state of
complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity”. Unlike the definition of health prior to World War II, this definition involves a holistic
(focusing on the whole person and all the dimensions rather than one aspect, such as
physical health) approach by recognising not just the physical aspects and illnesses of
health but the mental, social and spiritual wellbeing too. However, this definition has
limitations and fails to recognise that attaining this level of health is impossible as it is
changing nature and there are times when we are not physically, mentally and socially
healthy all at once.

Dimensions of health
Dimensions of health play an important role in establishing an individual's health, a person’s
level of health is the result of an interaction and balance between all four dimensions.
Physical health
Wellness of the body and the absence of chronic pain or discomfort.
Mental or emotional health
State of well-being where we can realise our abilities, cope with normal stresses of life, work
productively and make a contribution to the community
Social health
Our ability to interact with other people in an interdependent and cooperative way
Spiritual health
Sense of purpose and meaning in our life, and to feel connected with others and society

Relative and dynamic nature of health

The relative nature of health refers to how we judge our health compared to other people or
other points of time in our life.
The dynamic nature of health refers to the fact that the health status of anyone is
continually changing and can change dramatically with little notice (e.g injury, sickness,
bullying, divorce, questioning of faith, or being kicked off a sports team)

Health is a continuously changing process and people have different perspectives on what is
bad health and what is good. When assessing their level of health people consider their past
and current circumstances, as well as comparing themselves to others.

PERCEPTIONS OF HEALTH
 Syllabus dot points:
Students learn about:
● Perceptions of health
- Perceptions of their health
- Perceptions of the health of others e.g. parents, the elderly, the homeless
- Implications of different perceptions of health
- Perceptions of health as social constructs
- Impacts of the media, peers and family
Students learn to:
● Examine perceptions of health by exporing questions such as:
- How healthy am I? How healthy do other people think I am?
- How healthy do I think other people are?
- Why would my perceptions of health be similar or different to others?
- How might an individual’s perceptions of health affect their behaviour and
wellbeing?
● Determine the degree to which perceptions of health are socially constructed

Perceptions of their health

Perception of health is a subjective (personal) topic that impacts the priority we place on
health and the type of actions taken. (e.g. exercise and sport may be more important to
some compared to others)
Our perceptions of our own health are influenced by a range of factors, such as
➔ our family’s perception of health
➔ our peers understanding of what health is and how to become it
➔ how health is portrayed in the media
➔ our personal beliefs and preconceptions about life in general
➔ the value we place on health
➔ our previous experiences related to health (fitness, sport, injury, illness, disease)
➔ our environment (geographical location, access to health information and technology)
➔ education
➔ Family
➔ Culture
➔ Personal experiences
➔ Values, morals and opinions

Perceptions of the health of others e.g. parents, the elderly, the homeless
The way we interpret the health of others is influenced by
➔ Living conditions
➔ Fitness levels
➔ Health behaviours of various groups
➔ Age
➔ Social standing in society
➔ Stereotypes
Implications of different perceptions of health
People develop their own interpretation of what healthy means which can cause implications
for individuals and society as a whole. Young people can become influenced by the
behaviour of youth

Perceptions of health as social constructs

Impacts of the media, peers and family

HEALTH BEHAVIOURS OF YOUNG PEOPLE

Syllabus dot points:
Students learn about:
● Health behaviours of young people
- The positive health status of young people
- Protective behaviours and risk behaviours
Students learn to:
● Explore current research and information to:
- Identify the prevalence of and trends in the health behaviours of young
people
- Challenge the accuracy of societal perceptions of the health behaviours of
young people
● Identify protective and risk behaviours for health issues relevant to young people
and predict how risk decreases or increases when multiple factors interact