South Middlesex Times

Margaret “Peggy” Swarbrick, a professor at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, has made significant contributions to wellness assessment with her development of the Wellness Model in 1997. This model aims to promote holistic health by considering various aspects of an individual's life. It has been widely adopted across educational institutions, corporations, healthcare services, and government agencies.

The associated Wellness Inventory is a free online tool designed to evaluate personal wellness across eight dimensions: physical, spiritual, intellectual, social, occupational, financial, emotional, and environmental. Researchers from Rutgers Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies and Rutgers School of Health Professions have confirmed its effectiveness in their publication in Psychiatric Services. They stated that "the Wellness Inventory is a comprehensive and psychometrically valid tool for assessing wellness," which will aid healthcare providers in utilizing this assessment tool effectively.

Swarbrick describes wellness as "not the absence of disease" but rather the presence of meaningful engagement in life activities. The inventory serves as a guide for individuals to identify strengths and areas for improvement before setting personalized wellness goals.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration endorses the Wellness Model as part of its initiative to encourage holistic wellness approaches. The model's adoption extends to organizations like the National Park Service and educational institutions such as Seton Hall University.

Validation efforts involved distributing the inventory to approximately 3,500 participants from university communities and behavioral health professionals. Statistical analyses confirmed its reliability as a tool for measuring overall wellness across diverse populations.

Swarbrick emphasizes that traditional behavioral health interventions focus on symptoms while her approach highlights positive aspects of wellness. The inventory assists users in recognizing their strengths within daily routines.

Looking ahead, Swarbrick plans to develop an app version of the inventory and expand its accessibility through various formats and languages.