Can Being Optimistic Keep Your Heart Healthy?
August 3rd, 2012
Having an optimistic outlook seems to come naturally to some people while being quite difficult for others to achieve. Research has shown that people with positive psychological well-being (PPWB) tend to have fewer physical and mental health problems than those with negative well-being. In particular, studies have focused on how well-being affects issues such as anger, depression, anxiety, substance use, and trauma and has indicated that negative affect and outlook can exacerbate symptoms of these conditions. Additionally, research has provided evidence of a clear link between negative well-being, stress, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). But until now, few studies have focused on the effects of PPWB. To explore this dynamic, Julia K. Boehm of the Department of Society, Human Development, and Health at the Harvard School of Public Health recently conducted a review of existing research to expose the specific psychological and physical benefits of PPWB.
Boehm looked at PPWB that was related to life purpose and also happiness and found that the strongest indicator of cardiovascular health was optimism. She discovered that the existing research showed that individuals with PPWB tended to engage in healthier behaviors, such as adhering to proper diet and participating in regular exercise, than those with low well-being and were therefore at lower risk for CVD. Although the research demonstrated a link between PPWB and healthy behaviors, Boehm says there is not enough evidence to determine if this relationship is bidirectional. The results also revealed that moderate drinkers had higher levels of PPWB while those with high levels of alcohol consumption or complete abstinence had low PPWB. Other negative behaviors, such as smoking, were reduced in the individuals with high PPWB and elevated in those with low PPWB. Boehm believes the results of this analysis shed light on the relationship between PPWB and physical health but do not fully answer the question of whether PPWB leads to healthy behaviors and better overall health. Boehm added, “Perhaps one of the most striking findings in this review is just how few studies have addressed issues related to the direction of the association between PPWB and health behaviors.”
Reference:
Boehm, J. K., Kubzansky, L. D. (2012). The heart’s content: The association between positive psychological well-being and cardiovascular health. Psychological Bulletin 138.4: 655-691.
Related articles:
Can Listening to Binaural Beats Make You Feel Better?
A Healthy Mind Could Mean a Healthy Heart
Don’t Worry – Be Happy!
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Comments
Glad that we are finally seeing true datasets that reflect positively on the human condition when humans are positive. I have always maintained that I feel better when I am happy. My heart is lighter my attitude more cheery. Clearly I am in a better way at that point.
Please keep writing articles reinforcing this situation with us.
a positive and optimistic outlook is always an asset.whether it helps your physical health or not,it can definitely improve the quality of your life.it is a wonderful thing to be an optimist because that kind of an outlook will eventually help you tide over whatever life throws at you and will in general better prepare you for all things tough.
Can Being Optimistic Keep Your Heart Healthy?
Yes, it certainly can. It is a well known fact that those with an optimistic outlook tend to live longer and have better health than those with a pessimistic or even a neutral outlook. And to add to that, I can clearly feel how good my health is when i am going through the better patches in my life than when compared to those teary and low periods in life.
Of course! It is not just about being an optimistic person. It is the sort of lifestyle that an optimistic lifestyle generally tends to lead to. You think more about taking care of your body in a healthy way, and you engage in behaviors that will tend to keep you healthier for a longer period of time.
my husband just cannot see the good in any situation.frankly he is someone who will look for things that can bring down the cheer in any situation.I don’t know why it is maybe because he grew up in a pretty difficult environment but I just hope this outlook of his does not cause harm to his health.
More drinking= lower feelings of self worth and well being?
I believe that.
much better than being negative all the time, don’t ya think?
Being optimistic typically means that. . .
you will eat right
you will exercise
you will be kinder to others
they will be kinder to you
you will see the world as a place for hope
and not just for hate
you will see the good in others
not only just the bad
you will take care of the mind, body and spirit
and others will then do the same for you
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