Optimism and Physical Health: A Meta-analytic Review

Rasmussen, Heather N.; Scheier, Michael F.; Greenhouse, Joel B.

doi:10.1007/s12160-009-9111-x

Cited by 660 publications

(579 citation statements)

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“…In addition to examining the association between PPWB and deteriorative processes, we examine the association between PPWB and restorative processes that may protect against CVD. This is consistent with the American Heart Association's recent emphasis on ideal cardiovascular health, which is defined by more than just the absence of risk factors (Lloyd-Jones et al, 2010).Furthermore, previous reviews have primarily focused on positive affect (for an exception, see Rasmussen, Scheier, & Greenhouse, 2009). In contrast, we take a broad perspective on PPWB and consider a wide range of positive constructs that we classify by the dominant theoretical approaches to well-being.…”

supporting

confidence: 74%

The heart's content: The association between positive psychological well-being and cardiovascular health.

Boehm

Kubzansky

2012

Psychological Bulletin

749

698

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This review investigates the association between positive psychological well-being (PPWB) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We also consider the mechanisms by which PPWB may be linked with CVD, focusing on the health behaviors (e.g., smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, sleep quality and quantity, and food consumption) and biological functions (e.g., cardiovascular, inflammatory, and metabolic processes) that are most relevant for cardiovascular health. Because PPWB is a broad concept, not all aspects of PPWB may be associated with cardiovascular health. Thus, we distinguish between eudaimonic well-being, hedonic well-being, optimism, and other measures of well-being when reviewing the literature. Findings suggest that PPWB protects consistently against CVD, independently of traditional risk factors and ill-being. Specifically, optimism is most robustly associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events. In general, PPWB is also positively associated with restorative health behaviors and biological function and inversely associated with deteriorative health behaviors and biological function. Cardiovascular health is more consistently associated with optimism and hedonic well-being than with eudaimonic well-being, although this could be due in part to more limited evidence being available concerning eudaimonic well-being. Some similarities were also evident across different measures of PPWB, which is likely due to measurement overlap. A theoretical context for this research is provided, and suggestions for future research are given, including the need for additional prospective investigations and research that includes multiple constructs of psychological well-being and ill-being.Keywords: cardiovascular disease, health behaviors, biological function, eudaimonic well-being, hedonic well-being Scholars have long recognized the connection between mental health and physical health. From the ancient Roman poet Juvenal who declared, "A healthy mind in a healthy body," to early 20th century psychoanalysts who investigated the connection between mental states and physiology (Menninger & Menninger, 1936), and to researchers in the late 20th century seeking to identify disease-prone personalities (H. S. Friedman & Booth-Kewley, 1987;Rosenman et al., 1964), the complex relationship between psychological attributes and physical ailments has been the subject of fascination across time. Although past research has predominantly focused on the relationship between poor psychological functioning (e.g., anxiety, depression, hostility) and physical health, increasing research also suggests that a protective relationship exists between positive psychological functioning and physical health (Diener & Chan, 2011;Pressman & Cohen, 2005). Because the effects of psychological well-being and psychological ill-being are not merely opposites of one another and the absence of one does not necessarily indicate the presence of the other (Ryff et al., 2006;Ryff & Singer, 1998), it is critical to consider each separately in rel...

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supporting

confidence: 74%

The heart's content: The association between positive psychological well-being and cardiovascular health.

Boehm

Kubzansky

2012

Psychological Bulletin

749

698

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“…For example, positive affect, independent of negative affect, has been demonstrated to be inversely related to the risk of incident stroke (Ostir, Markides, Peek, & Goodwin, 2001), 10-year incidence of coronary heart disease (Davidson, Mostofsky, & Whang, 2010), mortality in medical in-patients (Scherer & Hermann-Lingen, 2009), and mortality in diabetic patients (Moskowitz, Epel, & Acree, 2008). These findings are also consistent with research demonstrating a positive relationship between optimism and favorable subjective health (Rasmussen & Wallio, 2008;Rasmussen, Scheier, & Greenhouse, 2009), although it should be noted that the optimism differs somewhat from positive affect in that the former refers more to favorable outcome expectancies (Scheier & Carver, 1985). However, negative and positive affect were not identical in their respective associations with the physical disorders.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Associations Between Positive and Negative Affect and 12-Month Physical Disorders in a National Sample

Weiser

2012

J Clin Psychol Med Settings

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Associations between positive and negative affect and a range of 12-month physical disorders were investigated in the Midlife Development in the United States Survey, a nationally representative sample of 3,032 adults ages 25-74. These associations were examined, controlling for relevant sociodemographic and psychiatric covariates. High positive affect was associated with decreased risk of physical disorders, whereas high negative affect was associated with increased risk. However, associations between positive affect and physical disorders were partially attenuated following adjustment for concurrent negative affect. Additionally, high affect balance was associated with decreased risk of physical disorders before and after adjustments. These findings underscore the relevance of affective disposition in health status, suggesting that both positive and negative affect may serve as viable health risk parameters.

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“…Previous studies have established positive relations between optimism and physical and mental health outcomes (Segerstrom et al, 1998;Taylor et al, 2000;Rasmussen et al, 2009). For example, Segerstrom et al (1998) found that dispositional and situational optimism was related to more positive mood ratings and more positive immune parameters in college students.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Effects of a best-possible-self mental imagery exercise on mood and dysfunctional attitudes

Renner

Schwarz

Peters

et al. 2014

Psychiatry Research

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a b s t r a c tDispositional optimism has been related to positive physical and mental health outcomes, increased positive mood ratings and cognitions about the future. In order to determine the causal relation between optimism and mood and cognitions optimism should be manipulated experimentally. The current study tested the effects of a best-possible-self mental imagery exercise on affect and mood ratings and dysfunctional cognitions following a sad mood induction in undergraduate students (N ¼40). Participants in the experimental condition wrote about their best possible self in the future for 15 min and engaged in a mental imagery task about their best possible self in the future for 5 min in order to experimentally induce optimism. Participants in the control condition wrote about a typical day for 15 min and engaged in mental imagery about a typical day for 5 min. We assessed affect, mood and dysfunctional cognitions before and after the experimental manipulation. Participants in the experimental condition had higher positive mood ratings and higher positive affect compared to participants in the control condition. Participants in the control condition reported decreased dysfunctional cognitions whereas dysfunctional cognitions in the experimental group remained unchanged. Future studies should replicate these findings in clinical groups with more profound levels of negative affect and dysfunctional cognitions.

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Optimism and Physical Health: A Meta-analytic Review

Abstract: Background-Prior research links optimism to physical health, but the strength of the association has not been systematically evaluated.

Cited by 660 publications

References 100 publications

The heart's content: The association between positive psychological well-being and cardiovascular health.

The heart's content: The association between positive psychological well-being and cardiovascular health.

Associations Between Positive and Negative Affect and 12-Month Physical Disorders in a National Sample

Effects of a best-possible-self mental imagery exercise on mood and dysfunctional attitudes

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