The Definition of «Healthy Lifestyle» in Psychological Research

Article is devoted to the theoretical understanding of the “healthy lifestyle” in psychological research. The analysis of definitions of the “healthy lifestyle” of scientific literature is carried out; approaches in his definition and the main features are allocated. Approaches to the studying of a healthy lifestyle in foreign researchers are considered. It is revealed that along with the concept of “healthy lifestyle”, the concept of “self-preservation behavior” is actively used in domestic studies, and often as synonymous. The aim of the article was to correlate the term of “healthy lifestyle” and “self-preservation behavior” in the context of health psychology, allocated their similarities and differences. A number of definitions of “self-preservation behavior” are given. It is shown that in foreign studies the term “self-preservation behavior” is used in the study of professional groups in the context of the attitude to their health; in domestic psychology as behavior-oriented health and prevention of diseases. The analysis revealed a close connection between the term of “healthy lifestyle” and “self-preservation behavior”, which together direct human activity towards the strengthening and development of individual and public health, but their identification is not quite correct. It is shown that “self-preservation behavior” is an integral element of a healthy lifestyle. The term of “healthy lifestyle” is broader than “self-preservation behavior”, and can be defined as a set of external and internal conditions of human life, contributing to the longer operation of all systems of the body, as well as a set of actions aimed at preserving and promoting health (self-preservation behavior), and the harmonious development of the person.

Berezovskaya R. A. Issledovaniia otnosheniia k zdorov’iu: sovremennoe sostoianie problemy v otechestvennoi psikhologii [Attitude towards health research: the current state of the problem in Russian psychology]. Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Psychology. Sociology. Pedagogy, 2011, issue 1, pp. 221–226. (In Russian)