The article reviews life quality conceptual role of society state research. During the second half of the XX century “life quality” evolved from a vague, unformed scientific expression to a scientific concept, which was later included in many theories. For most of this period, the development of this category was considered mainly in Western science. In the USSR, the term “lifestyle” became very popular. A large number of investigations were devoted to the working class way of life, the work team, etc. Later “lifestyle” was replaced by the rejected concept of “life quality”.