Objective

To determine the influence of the family life trajectory on the appropriation of lifestyles of people diagnosed with arterial hypertension or diabetes mellitus II in Cali, Colombia.

Materials and Methods

Qualitative, exploratory and comparative study in the field of medical sociology. A semi-structured interview was applied.

Results

The family life cycle is a dynamic and changing process that encompasses the origin of the life cycle up to the present moment. It involves behaviors, practices, interests, perceptions and interaction relations. This process is possible because of the interaction of the subjects with the social context that influences their actions.

Conclusions

Lifestyles are not "simple" individual practices that shape a certain way of living, but complex and dynamic social constructs that are permeated by interaction, particularly, family relationships, which make an important contribution to this process. The way in which subjects live their health-disease process is influenced by their behavior, which allows social development based on life cycles, and affected by the social class to which they belong. This configuration serves as the basis to understand the reasons why apprehending or not the practices and instructions given in hypertension and diabetes control programs is possible.