Lifestyle is a concept that has a great impact on health, both at the individual and society level. It is therefore important to have a proper understanding of its nature and origin to be able to analyse its influence on health behaviours. However, this is not an easy task since the literature is rife with different theories and definitions. This article is an attempt to shed some light on this issue through a narrative review and analysis of the main definitions of lifestyle in the psychological and sociological fields. It focuses on the internal, external and temporal dimensions of lifestyle and highlights the main components that characterise this construct.
The first interpretation of lifestyle focuses on its internal dimension. According to this view, lifestyle is a set of attitudes and values defining personal behavioural models, that is, the way we act. From a psychological perspective, these models are based on a system of hierarchically ordered values, with the main values being those concerning self-esteem and personal autonomy. These values are adapted to the environment through a system of preferences, and they tend to remain constant over time.
Another important feature of this interpretation is that it stresses the importance of the individual’s sense of identity in shaping the lifestyle. This is achieved by focusing on specific sensitive phases in the life of the person (adolescence, early adulthood) and the identification of distinct social groups with which one can identify. It also emphasises the existence of specific antecedent factors, such as cultural, familial or socioeconomic status.
This approach to the lifestyle is reflected by a variety of studies, including those conducted by Milton Rokeach and Arnold Mitchell, which consider lifestyle as a variable in personality questionnaires. Nevertheless, these studies are hampered by the fact that the underlying model is still rather simplistic and limited to the definition of behavioural models.
Lastly, the temporal dimension is not clear in the different approaches. It is not established whether and how lifestyles change throughout the various stages of the life cycle, or how they may be affected by a series of individual and collective crises or changes. In the meantime, the sociological theory of lifestyle focuses on the social dynamics of the development and maintenance of lifestyles, considering them to be a form of socialisation.
Despite the fact that the aforementioned approaches are useful in distinguishing between the various definitions of lifestyle, it is essential to understand that, ultimately, the definition and interpretation of this construct should be based on a critical vision, which is aimed at building more effective theoretical and explanatory models that serve as the basis for developing effective interventions. This is especially true in the field of health, where it is necessary to avoid adding a new definition without creating an adequate explanatory model for lifestyle. This is particularly important given the complexity of this construct and its role in the current health situation. It is therefore essential to explore and debate its broader meaning in order to be able to develop effective interventions to reduce the occurrence of chronic diseases.
