LIFESTYLE, often written as Losseteria, refers to the identification of a particular type of personality that may have an enduring influence on a nation. The concept of LIFESTYLE was derived from the work of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. In his Theory of Personality, Jung identified seven primary types of human personality, also known as the ‘identical twins’ of which we all are essentially members.

Lifestyle is the attitudes, behaviors, interests, and behavioral orientations of a person, group, or society. Admittedly, the term has no precise science behind it. The word was first introduced by Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler in his famous article, The Case of Miss R, with the implied meaning of “the basic nature of a person as revealed early in life”. For this theory to work, one needs to draw on several key sources like anthropology, sociology, nursing, developmental psychology, etc. However, according to the American Psychological Association, there are three general perspectives that explain the role of Lifestyle in human wellbeing:

In general, Lifestyle assessments are performed in two ways – with or without a medical history of the individual involved. With the use of a medical history, healthcare providers are able to delve deeper into possible emotional, mental and environmental factors that might impact on the behavior and attitudes of the person involved. When conducting a Lifestyle Assessment, the health status of the person is taken into consideration. This could either be good (undetected) or bad (indicated by a medical or psychological disorder). All the lifestyle choices that the person might have, from smoking, drinking, to eating habits, could be the outcome of a mental disorder or of a personality disorder. Therefore, a Lifestyle Assessment should not always be limited to mental disorders.

The second way of assessing a Lifestyle is through conducting a questionnaire or through a self-assessment. Lifestyle questions generally ask about the frequency of physical activity, the types of foods consumed, types of exercise, the time spent on chores or on leisure activities, the types of relationships (marital, social, friendly, romantic, etc. ), and the types of leisure activities (reading, watching television, listening to music, etc.). These questionnaires also include information on personal characteristics like sex, age, ethnicity, education, religion, and nationality. These aspects can significantly influence the way people lead their lives and the way they perceive themselves as they exist in the world.

Another important aspect of Lifestyle Assessments is by determining what types of Lifestyle changes the individual would like to make (change, modification or prevention). A person’s lifestyle choices can strongly influence his or her ability to live a healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle changes might include changing the lifestyle to reduce pain resulting from arthritis or even improving the quality of life due to HIV or AIDS. Lifestyle changes might also include adopting a new hobby or participating in recreational activities, joining a sports team, taking up a class or learning new skills.

Once an individual has chosen a lifestyle, he or she should strive to live it to the fullest. Lifestyles that are based on healthy living standards lead to longer, healthier lives and less medical interventions or hospital admissions. Lifestyles that are not based on healthy living standards are more likely to be compromised and lead to more health problems. As an example, the lifestyles of alcoholics are often contradictory and unhealthy. This is shown by the fact that alcoholics often exhibit signs of stress, anxiety and depression. Therefore, an alcoholic should adhere to a healthy lifestyle or avoid alcohol to reduce the risk of stress, anxiety and depression that may lead to alcohol dependence.