Wellness model

Health and wellness defined

There are many acceptable variations of definitions for these terms. At Binghamton University, we wanted to create working definitions of health and wellness that our campus community could get behind and use unilaterally, to speak a common language.

Health is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, but an individual's dynamic state of being that leads to resilience and longevity.

Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making a choice that influences quality-of-life outcomes.

Wellness Model

The Healthy Campus Initiative has adopted an eight-dimension model of wellness to illustrate the interconnectedness of the many aspects of living and how, together, they contribute to a healthy existence. The National Wellness Institute notes that applying a wellness approach can be useful in nearly every human endeavor as a pathway to optimal living. The eight dimensions of the wellness model are: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual. Consistent consideration and use of this model helps streamline intervention efforts and evaluative measures.

Graphic showing the 8 dimensions that overlap to contribute to wellness (emotional, financial, social, spiritual, occupational, physical, intellectual, environmental)
8 dimensions of Wellness

Reference Samhsa.gov. (July 2, 2015). The Eight Dimensions of Wellness. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration