Background

Keyes' (2002) mental health continuum advanced the field of positive psychology identifying that mental health and mental illness were not opposite. People can flourish or languish, with or without mental illness. This paradigm shift promoted mental health as a skill set that could be utilized and trained, regardless of a person's mental health status, to promote flourishing. The same shift is necessary for physical health.

Method

A literature review was conducted of popular scales used to measure physical health. 

Results

Most frequently used physical health questionnaires measure for the absence of ill health as a measure of physical wellness.   

Conclusion

A physical health continuum is proposed, supported by research, that people can live with chronic illness and still experience vitality. High physical health can be experienced with mild to low physical illness, and people may not have discernible signs of physical illness, but may be lacking vitality. Shifting away from viewing physical health and illness as opposites is needed to advance the field of flourishing science. Vitality can be pursued as a buildable skill, regardless of physical health status.