Embedding Health and Wellness into Higher Education Campuses Using the Eight Dimensions of Wellness Model

Institute for the Study of Integrative Healthcare Tuesday, November 3, 2026 | 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. The Institute for the Study of Integrative Healthcare invites students, faculty, healthcare professionals, and community members to join us for a special two-part presentation exploring one of the most widely recognized frameworks for understanding wellness: Peggy Swarbrick's Eight Dimensions of Wellness Model. This engaging event will begin with an overview of the model's eight interconnected dimensions—physical, emotional, social, occupational, financial, environmental, spiritual, and intellectual wellness—and examine how these dimensions can work together to influence our overall quality of life. Attendees will gain practical insights into how everyday choices, habits, relationships, and environments contribute to personal well-being and resilience across the lifespan. The second half of the program will feature findings from an interdisciplinary faculty fellows research project led by three faculty fellows from occupational therapy, physical education, and health and wellness disciplines. The study examined how college students can use the Eight Dimensions of Wellness Model to develop healthier habits, improve well-being, and create sustainable self-care practices. Using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, the project explored how students' understanding of wellness evolved over a semester-long program designed to help them identify strengths, overcome barriers,