12/08/2025
Beyond Homeostasis: An Examination of the Eight-Dimensional Wellness Model
In the realm of public health and psychology, the construct of wellness has evolved significantly from a binary metric of “health versus disease” to a dynamic, multifaceted pursuit of optimal functioning. While early theoretical frameworks, such as the six-dimensional model proposed by Dr. Bill Hettler (1980) of the National Wellness Institute, laid the groundwork for holistic health, contemporary discourse has increasingly adopted the Eight-Dimensional Wellness Model. Often attributed to the work of Peggy Swarbrick (2006) and subsequently popularized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this expanded framework posits that flourishing is the result of a synergistic balance across eight distinct but interdependent domains. This post explores these dimensions, offering a rigorous analysis of how they contribute to a life of resilience and fulfillment.
The Theoretical Shift: From Deficit to Asset
Historically, the medical model viewed health primarily as the absence of pathology. In contrast, the wellness model operates on a continuum of growth. It is an active process through which individuals become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence (Hettler, 1980). Swarbrick (2006) further refined this by emphasizing that wellness is strength-based; it focuses on leveraging personal assets rather than merely correcting deficits.
The Eight Dimensions of Wellness
To fully appreciate the wellness model, one must examine its constituent parts not as isolated silos, but as overlapping spheres of influence where a perturbation in one dimension inevitably ripples through the others (Stoewen, 2017).
Check out the full blog post on the website for a deeper dive.
References
Hettler, B. (1980). Wellness promotion on a university campus. Family & Community Health, 3(1), 77–95.
Stoewen, D. L. (2017). Dimensions of wellness: Change your habits, change your life. The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 58(8), 861–862.
Swarbrick, M. (2006). A wellness approach. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 29(4), 311–314. https://doi.org/10.2975/29.2006.311.314