The Evolution of Wellness Models: Implications for Women’s Health and Well-Being

The concept of wellness goes beyond the traditional definition of health, representing a holistic and evolving spectrum that combines lifestyle choices with health-related behaviors. A systematic search was performed across Web of Science, Scopus, Medline, and PubMed, covering all published articles till 2024. From an initial pool of 1619 papers 12 met the inclusion criteria. The review identified thirteen wellness frameworks, analyzing their aspects and importance for women’s health. These models span from fundamental frameworks, such as Dunn’s High-Level Wellness, to more modern paradigms, like Kauppi’s Wellness Consensus Model. Numerous deficiencies were discerned during the examination, especially concerning cultural pertinence and empirical substantiation. Many prevailing models are entrenched in Western frameworks, constraining their universal applicability, particularly in non-Western environments. Additionally, considerations that are specific to gender, such as reproductive health, caregiving duties, and the equilibrium between professional and personal spheres, are frequently neglected in these models, thereby impeding their efficacy in addressing the distinct wellness challenges confronted by women. The results underscore the pressing necessity for formulating more inclusive wellness frameworks sensitive to gender and adaptable to diverse cultural contexts. Such models would better meet women’s holistic health requirements by recognizing the varied social, cultural, and economic influences that affect their overall well-being. This study enriches the ongoing dialogue regarding wellness by advocating for a trajectory toward more comprehensive and representative wellness models for women across various global contexts.