Dimensions of Wellness: A Multidimensional Concept

Abstract

Objective: To assess how medical students adhere to various aspects of well-being in the context of physical, emotional, and Spiritual Wellness.

Materials & Methods: The cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted from January to December 2010, comprising randomly selected 300 male/female medical students in Riphah International University. The responses - 'no,' 'sometimes,' 'mostly' and 'yes/always' (numbered 0-4) - were analyzed in terms of frequency, proportion, and percentages by Predictive Analysis Software (PASW).

Results: Of the 300 questionnaires, 287 (95.7%) fully-completed questionnaires comprised the study universe. According to the survey, 103(35.89%) respondents were male, and 184 (64.11%) respondents were Female. Sickness and sports affect physical Wellness concerning Gender having p values 0.0159 and 0.0240. Family friends and mood swings affect emotional Wellness having p values 0.0059 and 0.00. Prayer and Spiritual Fasting involves Spiritual Wellness having p values 0.0024 and 0.0116. Tukey simultaneous comparison t-values are (df. = 858), also showing that Spiritual Wellness significantly differs from emotional Wellness and physical Wellness of respondents.

Conclusion: Medical students should be taught stress and time management techniques as part of their core curriculum to help them cope with the stress and pressures of practicing medicine. Research into gender bias in Health and Wellness needs to be expanded and improved by colleges and universities.