WELLNESS: RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF PHYSIOLOGICAL HEALTH, PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING, FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, PSYCHOSOCIAL MATURITY, AND SPIRITUALITY.
Contributors: University of Georgia.
Published: 1996
Number of pages: 145
Subjects: Sociology, Individual and Family Studies.; Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, General.
Description: The relative importance of five dimensions of person/health to perceived overall individual adult health, including the influence of family, was examined in a group of 233 adults, ages 19-78 ($M = 45,\ SD = 10.56$). Cluster analysis of written self-report scores from established instruments on physical health status (SF-36), general psychological well-being (GWB), psychosocial maturity (MEPSI), family functioning (FACES II), spiritual experiences (INSPIRIT), and spiritual well-being (SWB), revealed that the levels of functioning of all five personal variables described by Neuman (1995), including family, are relevant to the understanding of the perceived overall health of individual adults. Discriminant analysis was used to validate the cluster solution and further examine the characteristics of the clusters. Individuals in the healthy group with scores above the mean on all five personal variables were easily categorized, constituted the largest cluster in this healthy sample, and reported the highest overall health. Several different configurations of person/health dimensions were associated with poor overall health and were more complex than those associated with good overall health. Hierarchical multiple regression demonstrated that spirituality did not mediate the effects on overall health of the other four dimensions. However, results demonstrated that spirituality is important to overall adult health, and that INSPIRIT made an important independent contribution to explaining perceived overall health. Findings from this study have significance for individuals, families, and health and family practitioners. Consideration of the whole person is important for promotion of health/wellness and prevention or treatment of illness, with consequent overall reduction in health care costs. Findings also support the relevance of Neuman's model for conceptualizing and promoting wellness in family practice and health care, and for thinking about the ecology of families
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-07, Section: A, page: 3266.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, 1996.

School code: 0077.