Abstract
Studies of health providers suggest that satisfaction with life is related to their values and sense of purpose which is best achieved when their professional role is in harmony with personal philosophy. Cross-sectional surveys suggest that personal health beliefs and practices of health professionals influence their clinical counseling practices. However, little is known about the influence of health philosophy on the personal satisfaction with life for dietitians. This study recruited a randomly selected, cross-sectional sample to complete a self-administered online survey. An exploratory factor analysis of was conducted for 479 participants resulting in a two-factor solution, clinical (α = 0.914) and wellness (α = 0.894) perceptions of health. An index score for the following valid and reliable scales were calculated: satisfaction with life, health conception, and healthy lifestyle and personal control. Pearson correlation coefficients between scores were analyzed to determine the degree of relationship. Potential mediators were explored with multiple regression. The relationships between variables were tested with structural equation modeling using a multigroup comparison between genders. The male participants were removed from the overall model and were separately evaluated. Health philosophy that is oriented toward wellness, was positively and significantly associated with life satisfaction, r(462) = 0.103, p < 0.05. Participants with higher Healthy Lifestyle and Personal Control scores reported greater life satisfaction, r(462) = 0.27, p = 0.000. Healthy lifestyle alone predicted 8.8% of the variance in life satisfaction (R2 = 0.088, df 1462, p = 0.005). SEM confirmed the model had goodness-of-fit (χ2 = 2.63, p = 0.453). The satisfaction with life of dietitians is directly and positively influenced by a greater wellness orientation and personal healthy lifestyle practices. The effect of practice and lifestyle on life satisfaction appears to be greater for men.
Highlights
Health as defined by the World Health Organization is “a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” [1]
The reduced version of Laffrey’s Health Conception Scale (LHCS) scale was used to identify the personal definition of health or health philosophy [8]
Wellness-oriented philosophy, integrative medicine practices, and healthy lifestyle were hypothesized to be positively associated with life satisfaction, but there was no prediction of the influence of gender
Summary
Health as defined by the World Health Organization is “a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” [1]. With the emergence of personalized medicine based on genetic and epigenetic data, the health potential of an individual is partially determined by biology, but influenced by the environment and one’s personal wellness resources acquired throughout the lifespan [2]. Integrative health is a broader, more contextual construct that views wellbeing as physical, but involves an individual’s mind and spirit [3]. Definition of Terms”, a publication updated every five years, which demonstrates either a lack of shared meaning within the profession to this essential concept or the assumption that personal and professional. Sci. 2017, 7, 67 philosophy are synonymous. Limited evidence on the wellness capacity of dietitians leaves a gap in our understanding of how dietitians’ health philosophy and lifestyle fit with their professional self-concept
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