A person’s lifestyle is a set of habits for how they spend their time, energy and money. It also includes the way they eat, exercise, interact with others and generally engage with life in general. A person’s lifestyle is often a reflection of their interests, beliefs and values. It can be an area of focus for self improvement, or a way to express their creativity. People who live a certain lifestyle often share similar values, beliefs and behaviours. These groups may include the bar scene, church people, athletic groups, collectors, motorcycle enthusiasts, book clubs and more. They are subcultures within the broader mainstream culture with their own distinct values and practices.
A growing number of researchers and theorists are interested in the concept of a “lifestyle”. Some research on this topic is concerned with individual’s internal lifestyle, or their way of thinking and behaving that is consistent with their core personality. This approach to the study of lifestyle has been influenced by the work of philosophers and psychologists such as Alfred Adler and Daniel Yankelovich. Other research on the lifestyle concept is concerned with how an individual’s lifestyle is influenced by external factors and social trends. This approach to the study of lifestyle has also been influenced by the work of sociologists and consumer researchers.
One of the first types of research on lifestyle was developed by a group of sociological scholars and focuses on the idea that lifestyle is the result of individual’s social positioning and how this manifests in their daily behaviours and activities. Theories that take this type of perspective can be divided into two categories based on their main focus: the socio-demographic approach to the theory of lifestyle (often derived from the work of sociologists such as Max Weber and Bourdieu) and the emphasis on practice and behaviour, often influenced by consumer research.
Psychologists have also been involved in the study of lifestyle, though not always with the same level of enthusiasm as sociologists. Psychologists tend to look at a person’s lifestyle as consisting of a combination of both intangible and tangible factors. Tangible factors typically relate to the demographic profile of a person’s personality, while intangible factors may be based on the psychological aspects of that person such as attitudes, interests and opinions. In addition, some research on the lifestyle concept identifies both synchronic and diachronic trends that influence an individual’s personal and professional choices. This approach is often referred to as the profiles-and-trends model. Despite the different approaches to the study of lifestyle, some questions remain common to all models such as how a person’s lifestyle develops over the course of their lifetime. This is an important issue that can be further addressed by looking at the relationship between a person’s lifestyle and their ability to maintain their health. In particular, it is crucial to examine the relationship between a person’s lifestyle habits and their ability to prevent diseases such as cardiovascular disease.
