Adolf Meyer Revisited: Connections between Lifestyles, Resilience and Illness

Abstract

Abstract Adolf Meyer, whose theory of psychobiology represented one of the most insightful and important approaches to understanding mental illness in the early 20th century, insisted that humans could be understood best through consideration of their activities as experienced on a daily basis and over the life course. During Meyer's era, changes were occurring at an unprecedented pace including increased cultural diversity, social upheavals and technological advances. These, in turn, were associated with emotional, psychological, and behavioral problems. In many ways, the changes wrought during the early twentieth century parallel the challenges of our current age. This paper argues that Meyer's holistic, integrated, and life focused framework provides a timeless context for viewing the inextricable nature of mind and body, explaining the links between stressors of the modern era and illness. I review the emerging literature on psychoneuroimmunology and make the compelling case that lifestyle and daily occupations remain, as Meyer envisioned, important determinants of health and illness. Further, I take the position that lifestyle related stress results from our inability, through daily activity, to meet important and perhaps universal human needs. I discuss empirical evidence that supports this case. I conclude with a call for public efforts to create conditions and opportunities that promote resilience and foster the life balance necessary to sustain health and well‐being.