The Role of Positive Psychology in Lifestyle Medicine

Abstract

Lifestyle medicine leverages six pillars—a predominantly plant-based diet, physical activity, sleep, avoiding risky substance, stress management, and social connection. Facilitating behavior change represents the crux of success with each of these pillars. Positive emotions and positive psychology constructs are shown to drive behavior change in the upward spiral theory of lifestyle change. Moreover, positive psychology interventions serve as additional, independent protective health factors. This paper offers a brief review of the empirical evidence for these roles of positive psychology and makes the case for explicitly adding positive psychology to the foundational lifestyle medicine pillars.

Nudging as a Support for Behavioral Change in Lifestyle Medicine

“…This guidance include recommendations for activities such as gratitude practices, mindfulness practices, time in nature and acts of kindness among many others. 34 These interventions are supported by research showing that when individuals engage in intentional behaviors and activities with a "positive core," 35 they may increase and sustain pro-health behaviors as well as a sense of happiness.…”