A personal reflection: using theoretical frameworks to understand the impact of starting university on health and wellbeing

This article began as a personal reflection by the first author, examining factors that have influenced her health throughout the first year of university studies. In particular, it focuses on one significant factor, stress, that impacted on her health and wellbeing, with analysis drawing on theoretical frameworks. The first person will be used to reflect the primary author's thoughts and understanding.

Both lay and theoretical perspectives define health. Lay perspectives of health are definitions formed by non-professional individuals, who use conceptual understandings and perceptions of what health means to them, with information from a wide range of origins (Warwick-Booth et al, 2012). The concepts can have a factual or evidential basis underpinned by broader theories; however, the lay perspective will also incorporate locally developed conclusions regarding health, which may not have a theoretical basis. Giddens (2009) explained how different cultures have opposing views on the definition of health. In the Western world, the body is considered a complex machine, which must be kept tuned to be healthy. Any ailment is considered a flaw in the machine. On the other hand, Tai (2012) highlighted how the Oriental perception of health primarily focuses on a sustained balance between yin and yang, with a holistic approach being central.