Are Happy People Healthier? The Specific Role of Positive Affect in Predicting Self-Reported Health Symptoms

Pettit, Jeremy W.; Kline, John P.; Gençöz, Tülin; Gençöz, Faruk; Joiner, Thomas E.

doi:10.1006/jrpe.2001.2327

Cited by 113 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…Ostir et al (2004) reported higher levels of positive affect were associated with lower risk of physical decline across a 7-year period. Such findings are consistent with those for younger samples (Pettit et al, 2001). Elevated positive affect appears to provide a degree of protection against cognitive and physical decline.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Whilst these differences are not directly translatable into differences in mood levels, it does highlight some areas that could be investigated further. For example Pettit et al (2001) found increased smoking and drinking were negatively correlated with low positive affect in young adults. Low positive affect is particularly problematic for individuals of this age group.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the case of Grenoble, the participants displayed elevated levels of anxious states, not actual depression. Evidence for the negative health consequences of higher scores on negative affect is not compelling (Pettit et al, 2001), although Westerbotn et al (2005) noted a positive association between negative affect and the use of some cardiovascular drugs among an elderly Swedish sample.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Positive and negative mood in the elderly: the ZENITH study

et al. 2005

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Objective: To assess the quality of positive and negative affect (mood) in an ageing European sample. Background: Mood quality has important implications for both physical and mental wellbeing. Poor quality moods are associated with deficits in the diverse areas of cognitive function, health, and social relationships. The ageing process presents a number of potential challenges to successful mood regulation that could have wider implications. Design and participants: The current study examines the quality of positive and negative affect in 387 healthy participants from three European countries. Moods were measured four times a day for 4-7 d with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) mood scales. Measures of zinc (Zn) status were taken also. Setting: Two centres concentrated on 55-70 yr olds (Coleraine, N.Ireland, n ¼ 93 and Clermont-Ferrand, France, n ¼ 95), and two centres concentrated on 70-87 yr olds (Rome, Italy, n ¼ 108, and Grenoble, France, n ¼ 91). Results: Positive affect scores for the centre in Rome were significantly (Po0.01) lower than for the other three centres, and the Grenoble centre had significantly (Po0.05) higher scores on negative affect than the other three centres. Mood was not related to measures of zinc status (all Ps40.05). Conclusions: The two centres with the oldest participants showed deficits in mood quality that may have implications for broader well-being.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Positive and negative mood in the elderly: the ZENITH study

et al. 2005

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“…This approach focuses on how psychology can best contribute to the adaptive functioning of individuals. Research has thus started to study how optimal psychological functioning and experience (or well-being; Ryan & Deci, 2001) can contribute to physical health (e.g., Lindfors & Lundberg, 2002;Pettit, Kline, Gencoz, Gencoz, & Joiner, 2001). Within this approach, some authors have recently raised the issue as to how different forms of well-being, such as happiness and self-realization, relate to physical health (Ryff, Singer, & Love, 2004).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Goal Motives, Well-Being, and Physical Health: Happiness and Self-Realization as Psychological Resources Under Challenge

Miquelon

Vallerand

2006

Motiv Emot

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An integrative model of goal motives, well-being, and physical health was tested within three studies. Study 1 demonstrated that pursuing autonomous goals was positively associated with both happiness and self-realization, whereas pursuing controlled goals was negatively associated with self-realization, but unrelated to happiness. Study 1 further revealed that self-realization was negatively associated with physical symptoms, whereas happiness was unrelated to the symptoms. Study 2 replicated the findings of Study 1 while showing that academic stress mediated the relationship between self-realization and physical symptoms. Finally, Study 3 replicated the findings of Studies 1 and 2 and additionally demonstrated that academic coping mediated the relationship between self-realization and academic stress. These findings are discussed in terms of their theoretical implications and directions for future research are proposed.

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“…Regarding physical health, for example, PA has been associated with prompt recovery of physiological responses (e.g., Fredrickson, Mancuso, Branigan, & Tugade, 2000;Tugade & Fredrickson, 2004), enhanced immune systems (e.g., McClelland & Cheriff, 1997;Valdimarsdottir & Bovbjerg, 1997), and fewer reported physical symptoms (Pettit, Kline, Gencoz, Gencoz, & Joiner, 2001). It is possible that the GHQ was not suitable for measuring physical health because it is a scale designed primarily to assess mental health.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Re-Examination of the Effects of the "Finding Positive Meaning" Coping Strategy on Positive Affect and Health

Yamasaki

Uchida

Katsuma

2010

An International Journal of Psychological Sciences

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This study examined the effects of "finding positive meaning" coping on positive affect (PA) and health with methodological modifications to overcome limitations in Yamasaki et al. (2009). Participants in the intervention group (14 men and 15 women) reported the most stressful event during the past three days and its positive meaning, while those in the control group (16 men and 15 women) reported only the most stressful event. Both groups reported twice a week for nine successive weeks via e-mails. Four self-report questionnaires measuring the intervention effects were administered to all participants. Results showed that PA and two of the health variables (social dysfunction and depression) were improved in both men and women by this intervention. Furthermore, hierarchical regression and mediation analyses showed that the enhanced coping following intervention increased PA, which in turn improved mental health status. Study limitations and possibilities for a self-control type of primary prevention were discussed.

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Are Happy People Healthier? The Specific Role of Positive Affect in Predicting Self-Reported Health Symptoms

Cited by 113 publications

References 68 publications

Positive and negative mood in the elderly: the ZENITH study

Positive and negative mood in the elderly: the ZENITH study

Goal Motives, Well-Being, and Physical Health: Happiness and Self-Realization as Psychological Resources Under Challenge

Re-Examination of the Effects of the "Finding Positive Meaning" Coping Strategy on Positive Affect and Health

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