Abstract
Defined as the distinctive behavioral expression of a characteristic pattern of values and beliefs, lifestyle is operationalized in terms of a recognizable set of personal construct ratings of everyday activities. A survey, with a follow-up questionnaire seven years after the original study, of the personal projects and subjective well-being of 103 Canadians is reported. Replicating previous work (Horley et al., 1988, Social Indicators Research), three general lifestyle types are found. The three lifestyles are labelled provisionally relaxed, pressured, and self-improvement. Although the three lifestyles were represented in the data, about 40% of the respondents were classified on a different lifestyle profile, indicating a moderate degree of lifestyle change.
Three lifestyles are found among those reporting high well-being, and these types bear some resemblance to previous findings. The three lifestyles are labelled individualistic hedonist, self-possessed promethean, and generalist. Sex differences are found in that women are assigned to the generalist lifestyle more than men. In contrast to the original research, men are assigned to a hedonist lifestyle more than women.
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Horley, J. A longitudinal examination of lifestyles. Soc Indic Res 26, 205–219 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00286559
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00286559