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Related Experiment Videos

Does positive affect influence health?

Sarah D Pressman1, Sheldon Cohen1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University.

Psychological Bulletin
|December 15, 2005
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Positive affect (PA) is linked to better health, including lower illness and longer life. However, research has methodological concerns, especially regarding intense PA

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Health Psychology
  • Behavioral Medicine

Background:

  • Consistent patterns link positive affect (PA) with physical health outcomes.
  • Existing literature suggests associations between trait PA and lower morbidity, and state/trait PA and reduced symptoms/pain.
  • Trait PA is also linked to increased longevity in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the literature associating positive affect and physical health.
  • To address conceptual and methodological reservations in PA-health research.
  • To propose a theoretical framework for future studies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review synthesizing findings on positive affect and physical health.
  • Analysis of evidence regarding trait and state PA in relation to morbidity, symptoms, pain, and longevity.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of experimental and naturalistic studies on the physiological effects of PA.

    • Main Results:

    • Trait PA is associated with lower morbidity and increased longevity.
    • State and trait PA are linked to decreased symptoms and pain.
    • Experimental induction of intense state PA can cause short-term harmful physiological arousal, but this is not consistently observed in naturalistic settings.

    Conclusions:

    • While PA shows consistent associations with positive health outcomes, significant conceptual and methodological issues persist.
    • The impact of intense state PA on physiological function requires careful consideration, with findings varying between experimental and naturalistic studies.
    • A refined theoretical framework is needed to guide future research on the complex relationship between positive affect and physical health.