Irene Gillis will present her Master of Education Thesis Defense on Tuesday, March 12 at 3:00pm in Memorial Building, room 417. Thesis Title: "Environmental Influences on Healthy Living". All are welcome. ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to explore what healthy living means to adult women living in a rural area of a Canadian province. This study examined the benefits and barriers identified by the participants in relationship to healthy lifestyles, as well as the facilitators they recognized in relation to healthy living. Eight women, aged 40-65, from Prince Edward Island took part in the study. Using a descriptive, qualitative approach, data was collected through in-depth interviews. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed for common themes and codes. Results indicated that the participant’s ideas about healthy living included eating in a healthy way, being physically active, experiencing a personal spirituality, and not having addictions to substances. The participants identified a range of factors that facilitated living a healthy lifestyle including: having balance, having confidence in oneself, being in control, supportive family members and friends, spirituality, and public policy. The participants believed that the benefits of a healthy lifestyle involved alleviating stress, enjoying life, having more energy, and being sick less often. The participants identified a number of barriers to living a healthy lifestyle as well. These include a lack of energy and motivation, stress, a lack of time, conditions in the workplace, the location of the exercise facilities, the size of the community, the cost of food, and the lack of support from family and friends. This research study calls for rethinking the education and teaching strategies used to educate women in the area of healthy living. These strategies should be reframed to address the learner as a whole, thus incorporating the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of lifestyle choices, with a focus on the physical and socio-cultural environments in which individuals live.