Greatest Challenges to Wellbeing in the 21st Century - Literature review Example

Wellbeing Name Course Institution Instructor’s name Introduction The 21st century has witnessed not only the rise in the population rates, with the world population reaching the seven billion point, but also, the most rapid progression in the development of new technologies and systems and globalization, which have both impacted on the easy access, storage and retrieval of information (Glatzer et al., 2004). Glatzer et al. (2004) indicates that advancement in technology and globalization have influenced the movement of products, people, processes, information and services from one location to another globally leading to international trade, global integration and the growth of a global village as echoed by Rath & Harter (2010). Be it as it may, these developments have brought with them difficulties associated with advancement in technology such as market and business uncertainties, stiff market and business competition, deterioration of social and cultural ideals and more significantly, immense challenges to the overall wellbeing of people as noted by Harrington (2012). With the rise in the population rates, the number of challenges to wellbeing facing people and the society in the 21st century increases. Among these challenges includes poor lifestyles decisions, rising uncertainties in all aspects of life, increasing work-related pressures, physical inactivity, and deteriorating social relations among others (Hoeger & Hoeger, 2009). This forms the basis of this report, which seeks to discuss the greatest challenges to wellbeing in the 21st century and the implications they have for society. Definition of terms Rath & Harter (2010) describes wellbeing of people as the wellness of a person holistically which is indicative of their quality of life not only financially but also, physically, psychologically, spiritually, emotionally, socially, occupationally and environmentally. The concept of well being has varied facets and can be achieved from various sources which includes having quality education, accessing quality health, developing reliable social networks, accessing quality employment and making effective lifestyle decisions (Glatzer et al., 2004). To achieve wellbeing in people entails implementing positive plan of actions and programs that facilitate positive behavior change, which allows health improvement, life prolonging and the enhancement in overall quality of life (Raz, 2004). Greatest challenges to wellbeing in the 21st century Inability to create an alignment and balance in all the dimensions of life Among the greatest challenge to wellbeing in the 21st century is the inability of individuals and the society in general to strike the right balance in terms of ensuring all the dimensions of life, which includes the social, mental, emotional, spiritual, occupational, environmental and the physical aspects are in tune with each other (Hoeger & Hoeger, 2009). For instance, when an employee is going through emotional troubles, they may often lack the motivation to work, socialize with others, eat healthy, exercise and attend church services and as a consequence, become highly prone to illnesses, which comprises on their wellbeing. In modern times where individuals are constantly under pressure to perform and are encouraged to be highly competitive in order to remain relevant and access the best things in life, it becomes virtually impossible to have a balance in all the dimensions of life aforementioned, which influences one’s level of wellbeing as suggested by Harrington, (2012). The most important point to note is that the high degree of wellbeing in people is much more than having optimal body fitness, financial success and being disease-free (Rath & Harter, 2010). Wellbeing entails and integrates other elements such as having balanced diets at all time, having sufficient fitness, effective management of stress and protecting oneself from diseases and opportunistic infections as highlighted by Raz, (2004). In addition, being spiritual, enhancing personal safety, controlling or the ability to prevent the abuse of substances, carrying out regular physical tests in order to make effective and early disease prevention and treatment, developing favorable living environments and health education (Hoeger & Hoeger, 2009). People and the society in general must also be able to ensure adequate physical fitness and effectively and efficiently manage risks factors which cause illnesses and diseases. The inability to sustain high degree of wellbeing has closely been linked to deterioration of health, loss of vitality and losing the zest for life (Rath & Harter, 2010). Glatzer et al. (2004) concludes that, ensuring high degree wellbeing can be achieved simply by making the right personal lifestyle decisions and using common sense. Poverty According to Article 25(1) of the Declaration of Human rights, each and every individual has the right to have a standard of living that ensures sufficient health and wellbeing for themselves and their families, having enough to eat, clothing, health care and adequate housing (Vlemickx & Smeeding, 2001). This means, being able to meet the basic human needs. Despite the declaration, there are millions of people across the world both in developed and third world countries who earn less than a dollar a day, who are below the poverty line that are unable to not only meet their basic needs but also are prone to illnesses, which incapacitates their overall life development as supported by Vlemickx & Smeeding, (2001) . Vlemickx & Smeeding (2001) further indicates that poverty is not limited to developing nations but also in developed countries where children in the low income brackets whose family financial situations and government funding determines the type of diet, the type of health care and the quality of education they access. More often than not, those in abject poverty are susceptible to low wages, unemployment, poor health and poor lifestyle decisions, which are easily transferred to the children causing poverty continuity across generations (Glatzer et al., 2004). This vicious cycle of poverty is a 21st century greatest challenge to wellbeing, which not only limits one’s access to finances through a lifetime but it limits one’s ability to optimally coordinate their social, occupational, mental, spiritual, environmental, physical and emotional aspects of their lives since they are unable to effectively meet their social, occupational, mental, spiritual, environmental, physical and emotional respectively (Vlemickx & Smeeding, 2001). Life uncertainties The ability to predict enhances the ability to plan. Hoeger & Hoeger, (2009) argues that in the 21st century, uncertainties in all aspects of life are so many and they occur so often, that it becomes practically impossible to plan for it. Social networks and support systems have become unreliable as the family institution have broken down, making it possible for people to engage in same sex marriages and single parenthood among other family arrangements, which are ultimately confusing for the children brought up in these families (Harrington, 2012). Additionally, parents are no longer attuned to what their children are doing since they are busy fending for the family and climbing their career ladders. The unreliability and the weak social support systems cause emotional issues, which are the basis for other difficulties in life and deteriorating wellbeing among individuals (Hoeger & Hoeger, 2009). The uncertainty on employment, where people are now employed on contracts means they not only are uncertain of their employment but also their future and their financial stability. In such a scenario, all these uncertainties cause frustrations and worry for the individual, who finds it hard to balance all the dimensions of life (Rath & Harter, 2010). Physical inactivity and poor lifestyle decisions According to Hoeger & Hoeger (2009), the 21st century has been characterized by a rise in the number and rate of lifestyle diseases and conditions which are as a result of physical inactivity and poor lifestyle decisions. These types of diseases affect economies owing to labor dynamics and huge health budget expenses and they include diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, high blood pressure and coronary heart disease among others (Glatzer et al., 2004). Owing to the type of jobs and changes in lifestyle, people are less active and are making poor lifestyle decisions in regards to nutrition and work (Rath & Harter, 2010). The inactivity and poor lifestyle choices cause the body to be prone to infections and diseases. It has become challenging for people to live healthy and partake regular physical activities owing to limited time to participate in physical exercises and the ease of accessibility and cost effectiveness in acquiring foods considered unhealthy such as French fries, pizza, sodas and deep fried foods (Harrington, 2012). The implications the challenges have to wellbeing for society The inability to create a balance between the social, physical, occupational, environmental, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions of life among people in the 21st century has made it impossible for individuals, as the members of society to function effectively, which in turn impacts the productivity of society as a whole (Raz, 2004). Poverty on the other hand, causes the society to be divided into two sections of people namely, the haves and the have nots (Glatzer et al., 2004). Such a society becomes engaged in a tussle in ensuring equal wealth allocation and equitable distribution of resources which comprises societal wellbeing. In addition, the society becomes obligated to cater for those in abject poverty and therefore, significant amount of resources are used to cater for the health, shelter, clothing and welfare of the poor, resources which could have been used to enhance other elements of development in the society (Rath & Harter, 2010). The challenge of physical inactivity and poor lifestyle decisions are a great cost to the wellbeing of the society since thousands of people become prone and victims of untreatable and fatal lifestyle diseases. Having a certain percentage of the population sick means less productivity owing to shortage of labor and rising pressure on national budget, since much of the money is allocated to the healthcare sector (Harrington, 2012). Conclusion Despite the significant progression witnessed in the 21st century owing to the advancement in technology and globalization, there exist great challenges impacting on modern society. Among the greatest challenges to wellbeing in the 21st century includes among others, inability to create an alignment and balance in the social, physical, occupational, environmental, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions of life, poverty, physical inactivity and poor lifestyle decisions. References Glatzer, W., Below, S.V., & Stoffregen, M. (2004). Challenges for Quality of Life in the Contemporary World: Advances in quality-of-life studies, theory and research. New Jersey: Springer. Harrington, R. (2012). Stress, Health and Well-Being: Thriving in the 21st Century. New York: Cengage Learning. Hoeger, W.W.K., & Hoeger, S.A. (2009). Principles and Labs for Physical Fitness. New York: Cengage Learning. Rath, T., & Harter, J.K. (2010). Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements. Sidney: Gallup Press. Raz, J. 2004. The Role of Well-being. Philosophical Perspectives, 18, 269-94. Vlemickx, K., & Smeeding, T.M. (2001). Child Well-Being, Child Poverty and Child Policy in Modern Nations: What Do We Know? London: The Policy Press. Read More