World Health Organisation (WHO)

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, 1946).

Source: https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitution

Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion

“Health is a positive concept emphasising social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities”
(Ottawa Charter, 1986).

Source: https://www.who.int/healthpromotion/conferences/previous/ottawa/en/

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

"Health can be viewed as the presence or absence of disease or medically measured risk factors in an individual.” Then AIHW uses the WHO definition. (AIHW, 2024).

Source: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/what-is-health

National Aboriginal Health Strategy

“Aboriginal health means not just the physical wellbeing of an individual but refers to the social, emotional and cultural wellbeing of the whole Community in which each individual is able to achieve their full potential as a human being, thereby bringing about the total wellbeing of their Community. It is a whole-of-life view and includes the cyclical concept of life-death-life”.
(National Aboriginal Health Strategy, 1989 as seen in National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan).

Source: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/02/national-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-health-plan-2013-2023.pdf

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

“The condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit” (Merriam-Webster, 2024).

Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/health

Throughout history, individuals, groups and communities have held various definitions about health to provide different meanings of health.

The definitions provided have similarities in the way they highlight the importance of physical, mental and social wellbeing. The WHO definition emphasises complete wellbeing and the absence of disease or infirmity, while the Ottawa Charter highlights personal and social resources as well as physical capacities.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's definition also emphasises wellbeing and the absence of disease or infirmity, while the Merriam-Webster Dictionary's definition is more succinct and emphasises the condition of being sound in body, mind or spirit. In their definition of health, The National Aboriginal Health Plan incorporates cultural wellbeing plus total wellbeing of Community.

The different meanings of health reflect the complex and multifaceted nature of health. Health is not just the absence of disease or infirmity but also includes physical, mental and social wellbeing, as well as personal and social resources and capabilities.

The various definitions highlight different aspects of health and the importance of taking a holistic approach to understanding and promoting health.

Meanings of health can vary significantly throughout Australia and across the globe among individuals and groups; often shaped by diverse cultural backgrounds, socioeconomic status and personal values.

For instance, a young urban professional in Sydney might associate good health with regular gym workouts and a diet rich in organic produce, reflecting a contemporary understanding of wellness. 

In contrast, an Indigenous Australian may define health in a more holistic sense, incorporating not only physical wellness but also spiritual, environmental and community wellbeing- a perspective deeply rooted in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tradition.

In rural areas, where access to healthcare services may be more limited, health might be viewed differently with an emphasis on functionality and the ability to work.

Migrants might bring with them notions of health intertwined with customs and homeland diets, which can evolve as they adapt to the Australian way of life.

All of these varied perspectives highlight that in a multicultural nation like Australia, health is dynamic and perceived differently in each individual rather than a singular, uniform concept.

People's meaning of health can be highly subjective. These differing meanings have implications for the priority individuals give to taking action to maintain or improve health. The way an individual judges their health may be different from what health means to a health professional or a professional athlete.

The meanings individuals give to health will most likely be based on what they have learned about health, along with their own experiences or on those of people they know. They will be reflected in an individual's behaviour and may be different to the interpretation that others have.

Social constructs can impact the various understandings and different meanings people have or attribute to health. Often one’s understanding and interpretation of health is created and developed by society. A good way to think about it is that perception of health is greatly affected by an individual’s context. 

An understanding of meanings of health as social constructs should identify that an individual’s interpretation of health is largely influenced by their: socioeconomic status (education, employment, income), sociocultural status (family, peers, media, religion, culture) and environment (geographical, political, social, access to information and technology).

Health can be defined and perceived in different ways and influenced by a range of factors, including culture, religion, personal experiences and social constructs.

The World Health Organisation’s definition of health emphasises the holistic nature of health, which includes physical, mental and social wellbeing. It is important we recognise and understand these different meanings of health to ensure health promotion and healthcare efforts are tailored to the diverse needs of individuals and communities.