Breathing easy: a prospective study of optimism and pulmonary function in the normative aging study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Pulmonology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Psychological factors, particularly emotions, are linked to chronic airways obstruction.
• Evidence for the impact of psychological factors on pulmonary function levels and decline is limited.
• Optimism is associated with improved well-being, while pessimism is a risk factor for adverse health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively investigate the effects of optimism versus pessimism on pulmonary function in older men.
• To determine if optimism influences the level and rate of decline in lung function.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Veterans Administration Normative Aging Study, a cohort of older men.
• Assessed optimism and pessimism using the Revised Optimism-Pessimism Scale derived from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (N=670).
• Tracked pulmonary function, including forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity, over an average of 8 years with approximately 3 exams per participant.

Main Results:

• Optimistic men demonstrated significantly higher levels of FEV1 and forced vital capacity (p < .01).
• Optimism was associated with a slower rate of FEV1 decline over the follow-up period compared to pessimism.
• These protective effects on pulmonary function were independent of smoking status.

Conclusions:

• Optimism is associated with better pulmonary function levels and a slower decline in lung function among older men.
• Psychological factors, specifically optimism, may play a protective role in respiratory health.
• Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms underlying the link between optimism and lung health.