A Theory That Individuals Can Live With Better Health

Matuska Christiansen (2008) proposed a theory that individuals can live with better health, less stress, more satisfaction, and have a balanced lifestyle through particular lifestyle configurations. Ultimately, the lifestyle balance is what can lead to a better quality of life with higher satisfaction and health because it contains compatibility of actual and desired occupation patterns based on an individual’s environment. The model recognizes that people have different physical, social, and cultural needs and that they can vary over time. The balance is the result of the extent people engage in these different essentials consistently (Matuska Christiansen, 2008). The model offers variability of satisfying the people’s needs by†¦show more content†¦However, there also came satisfaction of being able to play with my friends and make a good harmony. Matuska Christiansen’s lifestyle balance theory focused on five important lifestyle patterns. Out of the five, the three dimensions of lifestyle balance that I chose from the article are: (2) rewarding and self-affirming relationships with others, (3) feel interested, engaged, challenged, and competent, and (5) organize time and energy to meet personal goals and renewal. Rewarding and Self-Affirming Relationships with Others Matuska Christiansen (2008) state that there are many positive relationships between social support and psychological and physiological factors. Social support seems to buffer stress and reduce risks of chronological diseases and mental health disorders. Matuska Christiansen (2008) clearly mentions that the lifestyle balance theory does not focus on healthy relationships between giving and receiving support. However, it focuses on the mere fact that satisfaction results from choosing this occupation and social support. In my occupational experience, I could have chosen to play guitar by myself at home. However, I chose to join a praise team at a church and practice together. The band members brought enthusiasm and encouragement for me to continue. Although playing together was a different experience and it was frustrating, I still felt satisfaction and enjoyment because I was in a corporate atmosphere. As I wrote in my reflecti on