Health lifestyle theory in an Asian context.

ABSTRACT

Health in Western society has become viewed as an achievement: something people are supposed to work at to enhance their quality of life or risk chronic illness and premature death. This is evident in the research documenting the close connection between chronic illnesses and health lifestyles. Almost all of this research is based on Western populations and much of it treats health behaviour and lifestyles as matters of individual choice or agency. While agency is important, structural conditions can 'act back' on individuals to configure their lifestyles in particular ways. The focus of this paper is to apply a new theoretical model to an Asian context. This model features a convergence between agency and structure and is supported by studies in Western countries. If the model is to have global relevance, it needs to be representative of health lifestyles in Asia as well. Unfortunately, there very few relevant studies available in Asia. Consequently, the intent of this paper is to not only present an initial theoretical framework for such studies, but also to call attention to the need for research in Asia on this topic. Everyone has a health lifestyle and Asians are no exception, as their lifestyles undoubtedly play a decisive role in determining health in the Pacific region.

KEY WORDS

Asia; AIDS; Bourdieu; health lifestyles; theory; sociology

**********

Despite the importance of health lifestyles in contemporary society and the richness of the theoretical contributions of sociologists Max Weber and Pierre Bourdieu to lifestyle theory generally, a theory of health lifestyles has not been forthcoming until lately. Whether or not this inaugural theory based on Western literature (Cockerham 2005) is similarly supported by Asian studies is not known, nor is it likely to be determined here because of the lack of relevant research. Nevertheless, the few existing studies should provide some initial insight into the model's suitability for empirical testing in an Asian context.

Accordingly, this paper provides a theoretical model which can be used as an initial guide for health lifestyle research in Asia. If the model is to have global applicability, empirical data is needed from Asian populations which will verify, modify, or reject its propositions. However, the importance of this undertaking is not so much to test a theoretical paradigm, but rather its significance lies in the need to explain the role of health lifestyles in causing or avoiding disability or mortality in an Asian context. The major causes of death in Asia are now those of the West; where lives end largely as a result of chronic diseases having a close association with health lifestyles. Some acute diseases like HIV/AIDS also are linked to health lifestyles.