Development of an Interrelated Definition of Psychosocial Health for the Health Sciences Using Concept Analysis

The term psychosocial health encompasses a variety of definitions and references among different disciplines, and it is widely used in various settings within the health professions and health sciences; however, the term is difficult to conceptualize, which has led to its random and unspecified usage. To bring clarity to use of this term, a concept analysis was conducted. After a careful selection process, 15 articles, including those with their primary published definition, were analyzed and synthesized. The central attributes of the concept of psychosocial health were identified, and an overarching definition addressing its various aspects was proposed. The resulting definition is comprehensive and applicable to a variety of disciplines within the health professions. The definition provides a new understanding and increased clarity for this complex term. Importantly, it will also assist in promoting the psychosocial health of patients as well as health professionals.