Health is the dynamic balance of an individual’s physical, mental, and social well-being in adapting to the conditions of his or her environment. Historically, three types of definitions have been used: those that focus on the presence or absence of disease and those that consider the individual’s ability to cope with life demands. The new committee definition allows improvement efforts to go beyond the reduction of disease, disability, and death by promoting individuals’ response to and perceptions of illness; their ability to participate in work, family, and community; and their overall sense of well-being.
While the health of communities has traditionally been considered a concern of public health officials and medical professionals, this broadened concept of health encourages research and intervention targeting a wider variety of targets. These “health determinants” include working conditions, the quality of housing and schools, economic well-being, neighborhood safety, a community’s educational level, and the health status of its residents (Patrick and Wickizer, 1995).
For example, can a competitive swimmer with Down syndrome or a high school teacher with bipolar disorder experience good health? Yes, if their health is disconnected from limitations: the swimmer loves her sport and gains meaning in it; the teacher uses his or her skills to manage a challenging condition. However, when these dimensions are disrupted — as in the case of COVID-19 or changes in medications prescribed by their health plans — their sense of well-being and health may be challenged.