Wellness Literacy and Multidimensional Wellness Among Employed Mothers in Peri-Urban Areas of the Colombo District in Sri Lanka: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Employed mothers in peri-urban areas of Colombo District balance paid work, childcare, household responsibilities, and social expectations. This study measured the wellness literacy and eight dimensions of wellness of 127 working mothers in Colombo District, Sri Lanka, by a cross-sectional approach. A questionnaire was designed to measure wellness literacy, physical, psychological, social, occupational, intellectual, emotional, spiritual and environmental wellness. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha, Pearson correlations and two-tailed independent-samples t-tests were used to analyse the data. The level of wellness literacy was moderate. Social and spiritual wellness were the highest, demonstrating the importance of beliefs, family and friends, and social supports for everyday living, with occupational and environmental wellness being the lowest. Wellness literacy was associated with all dimensions, and especially psychological and emotional wellness. Wellness literature was higher in well-educated mothers and in families with a higher income. These results suggest wellness education and family and community support at work are required.