The Grinnell College wellness wheel is a model that represents how the eight dimensions of wellness —
- Social
- Physical
- Environmental
- Intellectual
- Financial
- Spiritual
- Emotional
- Occupational
— are intersectional with each other and are of equal importance to one’s overall well-being. If an individual puts too much focus on one dimension of wellness without acknowledging the need for other dimensions, their wellness will be out of balance. Similarly, an individual may need to have more emphasis on a particular dimension to bring it into balance with the other dimensions.
Every aspect of life is related to wellness and every choice or action in life impacts all dimensions of wellness. As described the dimensions of wellness are typically attributed to an individual. It is important to recognize that every dimension is not solely influenced by an individual’s choices. An individual’s wellness is significantly impacted by the relationships that they are involved in, the organizations with which they are associated, the communities in which they live, and society as a whole.
This is represented by the socioecological model of health. Just as every dimension of wellness impacts the other dimensions, each level of the socioecological model impacts the other levels. And all the dimensions of wellness are relevant at all levels of the socioecological model. ACHA provides an ecological model of wellness.