Positive life experiences and physical health: Associations and mediating pathways

Engagement in positive experiences in everyday life has been associated with better long-term survival, but research assessing associations with other measures of long-term physical health is limited. In the current study, data collected from the Midlife in the US Study (N=1,182) in 2004-2017 were used to examine whether frequency of engagement in a range of positive experiences is associated with three domains of health (subjective, functional, and morbidity) over an average seven-year follow-up period. Potential cognitive-affective and physiological mediators of these associations were assessed. Greater positive experience frequency was associated with better self-rated health (SRH), less difficulty in performing basic activities of daily living (BADLs), and lower comorbidity (count of dichotomous indicators assessing history of lung-related, autoimmune, blood pressure, blood glucose, and neurological disorders). Cognitive-affective factors (positive affect, depression, and perceived stress) mediated the associations with SRH and BADLs. Positive experiences may impact long-term physical health and warrant further study.