Health and Wellness Key Terms

Vocabulary flashcards defining fundamental concepts, dimensions of health, determinants, and key terminology covered in the health and wellness lecture.

Attitude

A person's beliefs, values, or opinions toward engaging in healthy behaviours.

Cognitive health

Well-being in the intellectual dimension, achieved through an active, creative mind.

Determinants of health

The most important factors—such as lifestyle, environment, human biology, and health services—that determine health status in an individual or a community.

Dimensions of health

All aspects of a person's health: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and cognitive. Holistic health considers all of these aspects.

Disability

The loss of physical or mental function.

Discrimination

The unfair treatment of people on the basis of such aspects as their physical characteristics, health history, or group membership.

Emotional health

Well-being in the emotional dimension, achieved when people feel good about themselves.

Environmental health

According to the World Health Organization, 'all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person and all the related factors impacting behaviours.'

Equitable

Fair, reasonable, and just.

Gender

The roles, personality traits, attitudes, behaviours, values, and relative power and influence assigned to the sexes by society.

Genetic endowment

The genetic makeup that predisposes an individual to adopt certain behaviours that affect health status.

Health

A state of well-being in all dimensions of one's life.

Holism

A concept that considers the whole person; the whole person has physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual dimensions.

Holistic health

A state of well-being in all dimensions of one's life.

Illness

The loss of physical or mental health.

Marginalize

The act of excluding people who are not part of the majority culture.

Optimal health

State of achievable maximum well-being in each of the five dimensions: physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and spiritual.

Personal empowerment

Understanding and accepting that you can make your own healthy lifestyle choices, free from the influences of others.

Physical health

Well-being in the physical dimension, achieved when the body is strong, fit, and free from disease.

Primary prevention strategies

Strategies that are aimed at preventing a disease or illness by reducing its risk factors.

Prognosis

The expected course of recovery, which may range from full recovery to death, based on the usual outcome of the illness.

Psychosocial health

Well-being in the social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual dimensions of one's life.

Social health

Well-being in the social dimension, achieved when people have stable and satisfying relationships.

Social support system

An informal group of people who help each other or others outside the group.

Spiritual health

Well-being in the spiritual dimension achieved through the belief in a purpose greater than the self.

Stigma

Social shame associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person that causes one to feel shame or embarrassment—for example, the stigma of being fired from a job.

Wellness

The achievement of the best health possible in all dimensions of one's life.

Rick Hansen

Canadian accessibility activist and athlete with spinal cord injury.