Professor Oluwafemi Esan | Contributor on spirituality and mental health topics

The biopsychosocial-spiritual (BPSS) model for personal change management is a holistic framework that recognises human beings as complex entities whose well-being is shaped by the dynamic interplay of their biological, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions.

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It provides a comprehensive approach to understanding and facilitating profound, sustainable personal change beyond merely addressing symptoms. (Cameron and Green, 2019).

Personal change management is the process of navigating transitions in your own life by planning, executing, and reinforcing changes to reach a desired future state.

It involves identifying obstacles, setting clear goals, and developing a structured approach to manage the psychological and emotional aspects of change, including addressing resistance and building support.

Personal change management is the structured process of guiding oneself through significant life, career, or behavioural transitions to achieve a desired future state.

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It involves understanding the psychology of change, addressing personal resistance, and implementing strategies and tools to ensure new ways of working or living are adopted smoothly and sustained over time

Components of the BPSS Model in Personal Change

Biological Dimension: This refers to an individual’s physical self, including genetics, physical health, physiology, and overall bodily function. In personal change, this involves:

Recognising the impact of physical health: Physical conditions, nutrition, exercise, and sleep patterns can significantly affect mood, energy levels, and cognitive function, influencing one’s capacity for change.

Addressing physical needs: Ensuring basic physical health is a foundational step, as chronic pain or illness can impede progress in other areas.

Considering physical activity: Incorporating physical activities as part of a change plan can have both mental and physical benefits.  

Psychological Dimension: This encompasses an individual’s inner world, including thoughts, emotions, behaviours, coping mechanisms, and mental health status. In personal change, this involves:

Enhancing self-awareness: Understanding one’s own thought processes, emotional triggers, and personality traits is crucial for intentional change.

Developing coping skills: Cultivating effective ways to manage stress, anxiety, and other challenges is essential for navigating the difficulties inherent in change.

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Addressing mental health concerns: Identifying and addressing mental health issues (e.g., depression, anxiety) is critical, as they can significantly impact one’s motivation and ability to change.

Social Dimension: This dimension includes an individual’s relationships, community, culture, family background, socioeconomic status, and environmental influences. In personal change, this involves:

Leveraging social support: Strong social support networks are powerful protective factors that can facilitate change.

Evaluating environmental factors: Recognising how one’s living or working environment may support or hinder change efforts (e.g., access to resources, community safety).

Fostering positive relationships: Building and maintaining healthy social connections can provide encouragement and a sense of belonging.

Spiritual Dimension: This aspect relates to an individual’s search for ultimate meaning, purpose, and significance, which may or may not involve organised religion. In personal change, this involves:

Clarifying values and purpose: A clear sense of purpose can be a powerful motivator for change, helping an individual align their actions with their core values.

Utilising spiritual coping mechanisms: Practices like mindfulness, meditation, prayer, or connecting with nature can provide strength, hope, and stress relief during times of transition.

Addressing existential concerns: Exploring and addressing questions about life, suffering, and transcendence can support holistic healing and personal development. ( Van der Voet,  2014).

Application to Personal Change Management

To apply the BPSS model to personal change management, one must:

1-Conduct a holistic assessment across all four domains to identify strengths, challenges, and needs.

2. Recognise the interconnectedness of these domains (e.g., improving physical health through exercise can positively impact mental clarity, social interaction, and overall well-being).

3-Develop an integrated plan that includes interventions or strategies addressing all relevant areas.

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4. Adopt a person-centred approach that respects the individual’s subjective experience, values, and autonomy throughout the change process.

5-Utilise a flexible, multi-causal perspective, understanding that change is often the result of dynamic interactions among multiple factors, not a simple linear cause-and-effect process. ( Klawonn,  Kernan,  and Lynskey, 2019).

The primary advantage of the biopsychosocial-spiritual (BPSS) model for personal change management is its holistic and integrated approach. It moves beyond traditional, reductionist models by recognising that personal change is the result of a complex and dynamic interplay of biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors, leading to more comprehensive and effective outcomes.

Key Advantages

Comprehensive and Holistic Understanding: The BPSS model provides a robust framework for understanding the “whole person,” not just an isolated set of symptoms or behaviours. This comprehensive view enables all contributing factors to be addressed during the change process.

Personalised Interventions: By considering an individual’s unique biological, psychological, social, and spiritual history and context, interventions can be tailored to their specific needs, values, and cultural background. This personalisation enhances the relevance and effectiveness of the change plan.

Identification of Diverse Resources and Coping Mechanisms: The model encourages the identification and utilisation of a wide range of resources, including:

Biological: Physical health, diet, exercise, and sleep hygiene.

Psychological: Coping skills, self-esteem, and emotional regulation.

Social: Family dynamics, support networks, community involvement, and cultural identity.

Spiritual: A sense of purpose, meaning in life, personal values, and faithbased practices that can provide significant strength and hope.

Enhanced Resilience and Well-being: By strengthening resources across all four domains, individuals are better equipped to navigate life’s challenges and build greater resilience. Addressing spiritual well-being, in particular, has been linked to reduced depression, anxiety, and improved overall quality of life.

Improved Collaboration and Communication: The model aligns well with multidisciplinary team approaches, fostering collaboration among various professionals (e.g., physicians, psychologists, social workers, spiritual counsellors) to provide coordinated care.

Focus on Meaning and Purpose: The spiritual dimension explicitly addresses existential questions and the search for meaning, which is a crucial aspect of the human experience and a powerful motivator for lasting personal change.

Empowers Self-Management: By creating awareness of the intricate interactions between different life dimensions, the model empowers individuals to take an active, informed role in managing their own change and well-being.

Reduces Stigma: By placing health and disorder on a spectrum influenced by a multitude of interacting factors, rather than a single cause, the model can help reduce the stigma associated with personal struggles or conditions. (Prest and Robinson, 2006).

The primary advantage of the biopsychosocial-spiritual (BPSS) model for personal change management is its holistic and comprehensive approach. It recognises that a person’s well-being and their capacity for change are influenced by dynamic and interconnected factors across biological, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions, rather than a single cause.

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The model moves beyond a narrow biomedical focus to consider the “whole person” within their unique context. This allows for highly personalised strategies for change that address the individual’s specific needs, values, and circumstances.

Improved Outcomes: This comprehensive understanding can lead to more effective and sustainable outcomes, as interventions are tailored to address the root causes and real-life challenges, rather than just symptoms.  

Reference Lists

Cameron, E. and Green, M., 2019. Making sense of change management: A complete guide to the models, tools and techniques of organisational change. Kogan Page Publishers.

Van der Voet, J., 2014. The effectiveness and specificity of change management in a public organisation: Transformational leadership and a bureaucratic organisational structure. European Management Journal, 32(3), pp.373-382.

Klawonn, A., Kernan, D. and Lynskey, J., 2019. A 5-week seminar on the biopsychosocial-spiritual model of self-care improves anxiety, selfcompassion, mindfulness, depression, and stress in graduate healthcare students. International journal of yoga therapy, 29(1), pp.81-89.

Prest, L.A. and Robinson, W.D., 2006. Systemic assessment and treatment of depression and anxiety in families: The BPSS model in practice. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 25(3), pp.4-24.

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