Concept of Health – Various Dimensions

There are five (5) dimensions of health:

1. Physical

2. Mental

3. Emotional

4. Spiritual

5. Social.

These five dimensions of health provide a full picture of health as a change in any dimension affects the others.

Physical

The physical dimension of health refers to the bodily aspect of health. Physical health ranges in quality along a continuum where a combination of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease or hypertension are at one end and a person who is at optimum physical condition (think health not fitness) is at the other.

Physical health can affect the other dimensions of health as a decline in physical health can result in a decline in other forms of health. E.g. a person who suddenly gets the flu is often isolated socially as to not infect others, struggles to focus in order to study or learn anything new, and may feel sad as a result of their isolation.

Mental

Mental health refers to the cognitive aspect of health. Often mental health is linked to or includes emotional health. Mental health then includes many mental health issues such as Alzheimers and dementia. It refers to the person’s ability to use their brain and think. This may be to solve problems or to recall information, but the focus is on the cognitive aspect of the person.

Mental healthcare affects the other dimensions of health. An increase in mental health can come as a result of increased physical activity, and good mental health can then lead to an increase in self-esteem as mental performance improves.

Emotional

Emotional health is about the persons mood or general emotional state. The relationship between emotional and mental health is clear and as such some illnesses relate to both, such as: depression and anxiety.

Emotional health affects the other dimensions of health as a person with a good self esteem is more confident in social settings, makes friends quickly and often performs better in physical activity.

Spiritual

Spiritual health relates to our sense of overall purpose in life. Spiritual health will very easily affect emotional and mental health as having a purpose in life can help you to apply yourself to achieving goals. Often people who are spiritual meet together regularly around their spiritual purpose, which helps to improve their social health.

Social

The social dimension of health refers to our ability to make and maintain meaningful relationships with others. The basic social unit of relationship is the family, and these relationships impact a person’s life the most.

Social health affects the other dimensions of health in many ways. A bad social life can lead a person to question their purpose in life or feel isolated and unwanted. Such feelings can demotivate people from physical activity and lead them towards depression.