Wellness is...

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A Definition

The definition above is one of many as, similar to the concept of Health, a number of definitions and models of Wellness abound and are somewhat individual in nature. A small inexpensive booklet (Wellness From Within: The First Step) published by the American Holistic Health Association provides easy to read basic information.

A Brief History

There are some who link the Wellness concept to the ancient Greek philosophy of 'arête', but the first written record of the word appears to be from the 17th century. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries a number of prominent people developed the concept of Wellness and the term Wellness was first used in connection with the concept by Dr Halbert Dunn in the 1950's. A number of Wellness advocates have shaped the movement in the USA since that time including Richard Eberst (Education), John Travis, Bill Hettler, Don Ardell (Health), Martin Seligman (Positive Psychology), Jane Myers, Thomas Sweeney and Melvin Witmer (Counselling) to name but a few.

The term has slightly different meanings in other parts of the world to that which has evolved in the USA. A paper by James Miller ('Wellness: The History and Development of a Concept', Spektrum Freizeit 27, 84-106, 2005) provides a concise history.

The Wellness movement in Australia has had a long, slow infancy from the initial work of Grant Donovan in the mid 1980's to the early 1990's, but it is now entering the adolescent stage.

Models and Definitions

Common elements of well recognised definitions and models include: multidimensionality, dimension balance, personal conscious decision to engage in healthy behaviours for optimum living and self responsibility. The most common dimensions included in definitions and models are physical, emotional, social, spiritual, occupational or vocational, intellectual, environmental and recently financial.

To explore some definitions and models visit National Wellness Institute (6 dimensions), the website of Dr Don Ardell (three domains and 15 skill areas) and a recent academic paper by Myers and Sweeney ('The Indivisible Self: An Evidence-Based Model of Wellness', Journal of Individual Psychology, 60 [3] 2004).

Assessing Wellness

A number of publications (especially Wellness related text books) by numerous authors provide Wellness checklists or assessments. Some examples include the Wellness Inventory (Alsbro, 2004), The Worseness/Wellness Continuum Test (Ardell,1999), Wellness Lifestyle Questionnaire (Hoeger and Hoeger, 2004), The Wellness and Longevity Potential Test (Hoeger, Turner and Hafen, 2002) and the free online Testwell Holistic Lifestyle Questionnaires (National Wellness Institute) - select 'TESTWELL' from horizontal menu, select 'Free Wellness Inventories' from left hand menu and then select the inventory of your choice.

Workplaces as Wellness Settings

Beginning in the 1950's in the USA as Executive Fitness Programs within organisations such as Johnson and Johnson, Pepsico, Chase Manhattan Bank and many more, Worksite Wellness Programs now exist in large and small USA workplaces across a diverse range from hospitals to churches.

USA

The increasing costs associated with the USA's Workplace Employee Medical Cover scheme has been the initiator of a great deal of research into:

1. the process of Worksite Wellness by researchers including David Chenoweth, Bill Baun (University of Texas), Judd Allen (Human Resources Institute) and Joel Bennett (Organizational Wellness)
2. the cost-effectiveness of Worksite Wellness by researchers such as Larry Chapman of Summex Corporation and
3. Productivity and Wellness (George Pfeiffer - The WorkCare Group and The Institute for Health and Productivity Management).

Worksite Wellness programs are now so much a part of Corporate America that a system of Awards exist managed by the Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA). Dollar returns for effective sustainable USA programs have been reported to be up to $5.00 for every $1.00 invested.

Australia

From humble beginnings in the late 1970's, Workplace Health Promotion Programs in Australia gained momentum in the late 1980's through State and National initiatives, only to reach a plateau mostly due to the inability of programs to demonstrate better than a dollar-for-dollar return. While a small number of programs have continued from their earlier inception more and more workplaces are once again investing in Worksite Wellness Programs as a way of reducing the negative effects of a number of relatively recent changes in the Workplace environment. The differences in Australian to USA Workplace Health/Medical Cover schemes makes it difficult for Australian programs to match USA program Return On Investment (ROI) outcomes.

Elsewhere

The Workplace Wellness movement also exists in slightly different guises in Europe, Asia and South Africa.

Program Outcomes

Wellness programs in workplace settings have been shown to:

• reduce employee stress
• improve employee health
• reduce workforce turnover
• improve employee decision-making ability
• reduce organisational conflict
• reduce absenteeism
• create a healthier organisational culture
• improve employee morale and loyalty
• reduce effects of presenteeism.