Cultural fit of emotions and health implications: A psychosocial resources model

Abstract

Emerging evidence on cultural differences in health implications of emotions suggests that the cultural fit of emotions (i.e., accordance with culturally normative and prevalent patterns of emotions) is associated with better health. However, the mechanisms underlying the links between culture, emotions, and health are not clear. In this paper, we propose a psychosocial resources model of cultural fit as an integrative framework to guide the future work in this area.Following the review of cultural differences in emotions, we next review the accumulating evidence showing that culture modulates the link between emotions and health in such a way that the cultural fit of emotions positively predicts health. We then propose that psychosocial resources (e.g., resilience, meaning in life, and social support) play an important role in linking the cultural fit of emotions to health. The psychosocial resources model proposes that the emotion-health link is modulated and sustained via the relevance of emotions to resources and coping in a given cultural context. The model is supported by a line of research suggesting the role of cultural fit in the attainment of resources and another line of research showing the importance of psychosocial resources in health.Lastly, future directions will be discussed for research incorporating culture into the study of emotion and health.

Considering cross-cultural differences in sleep duration between Japanese and Canadian university students

“…Another speculative possibility is that the harmful consequences of shorter sleep duration may derive, in part, from sleeping less than widely shared cultural norms for sleep. This speculation is in keeping with the findings that living at odds with local cultural norms has been found to be associated with a variety of other negative health consequences, such as subjective well-being [92], healthy eating [93], and better immune response [94].…”

Subjective health in relation to hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing: Evidence from the Gallup World Poll

“…The findings are in general agreement with argument that emotional information is more weighted in more developed and less traditional cultures. A relevant line of research also suggests that the emotion-health relationship depends on cultural differences in how emotions are perceived (Yoo and Miyamoto, 2018). For example, negative emotions may be less detrimental to health in cultures that hold a dialectical view of emotions (e.g.…”

The efficacy of positive psychology interventions from non-Western countries: A systematic review and metaanalysis

“…Examples are positive psychology activities such as the gratitude visit (Davis et al, 2016;Emmons & Stern, 2013), acts of kindness (Buchanan & Bardi, 2010), and forgiveness (Derakhtkar & Ahangarkani, 2016). In addition, many positive psychology activities aim to stimulate low arousal emotions such as kindness (Otake, Shimai, Tanaka-Matsumi, Otsui, & Fredrickson, 2006;O'Connell, O'Shea, & Gallagher, 2016), and compassion (Arimitsu, 2016;Yang, Liu, Shao, Ma, & Tian, 2015), and integrate prayer and other spiritual activities (Rouholamini, Kalantarkousheh, & Sharifi, 2017;Wu & Koo, 2016) (Lim, 2016;Tugade & Fredrickson, 2004), and there is evidence suggesting cultural fit of emotions is associated with better health (Yoo & Miyamoto, 2018). PPIs often include activities that aim to increase awareness, based on Buddhist philosophy, for example, mindfulness-based activities (Hamilton, Kitzman, & Guyotte, 2006;Ivtzan & Lomas, 2016), and loving kindness meditation (Fredrickson, Cohn, Coffey, Pek, & Finkel, 2008).…”