A lifestyle is a way of living, a personal choice that involves a combination of values and beliefs, attitudes, and interests. It also includes choices of leisure activities, food, fashion, entertainment, and more. A healthy lifestyle is a combination of many things, including physical activity, good nutrition, and stress-reduction techniques.
According to the dictionary, “Lifestyle is a general term for a person’s patterns of daily life.” It encompasses a variety of factors, from eating habits and leisure activities to the values and beliefs that an individual holds and their worldview. A person’s lifestyle can also be influenced by the people with whom they spend time and their environment, as well as their health status.
The concept of lifestyle has been explored from sociological and psychological perspectives, with different models that present different dimensions and aspects. For instance, the sociological approach focuses on understanding the lifestyle as a characteristic that a person has, while the psychological perspective considers the lifestyle as an attitude or worldview (as presented by Adler and Rokeach).
A common feature of these models is the temporality dimension that characterises the concept. It is not clear, however, whether these lifestyles are a consequence of specific phases in one’s life or are influenced by societal trends. This characteristic of the concept is important because it can affect the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions and may lead to misinterpretations of research results.
This article attempts to shed light on how the lifestyle construct has been developed in psychology, mainly by reviewing existing definitions and theories. It also tries to propose a more accurate conceptualisation of the concept, in order to enable an effective application in health promotion.
The word ‘lifestyle’ was first used in the English language in the mid-18th century. Its etymology is uncertain, although it can be traced back to the Middle English phrase, “style of life,” and the Latin phrase, “de moda vita.”
In the beginning, the concept of a lifestyle was associated with wealth, and later came to be associated with the values and attitudes that a person has. In the 19th century, lifestyle was used to refer to a particular pattern of everyday living that reflects a person’s values and interests.
A person’s lifestyle is influenced by their location, such as a rural or urban area. It can also be impacted by their cultural and natural surroundings, such as the ocean or mountains. Finally, a person’s lifestyle can be influenced by their level of affluence, which is reflected in their choice of clothing, entertainment, and food. The popularity of certain lifestyles has led to the creation of many magazines and television programs. These lifestyles include rock stars, athletes, models, and more. These types of lifestyles are advertised with images that try to persuade others to copy them. It is important to remember that a person’s lifestyle is a personal decision and should be respected by others. If you have a family, be sure to include them in your decision making process, as they will likely support you.
