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Cited by 152Cardiac Health and Mental HealthOptimism, Hope, and Well-beingPsychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

Positive psychological attributes and cardiac outcomes: associations, mechanisms, and interventions

DuBois, Christina M., Beach, Scott R., Kashdan, Todd B., Nyer, Maren B., Park, Elyse R., Celano, Christopher M., Huffman, Jeff C.·2012·Psychosomatics
DOI 10.1016/j.psym.2012.04.004
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Abstract

Background Intervention research at the intersection of psychiatry and cardiology has primarily focused on the relationship between negative psychological syndromes (e.g., depression) and cardiac outcomes, with less emphasis on positive psychological attributes, such as optimism, gratitude, and well-being, as they relate to cardiac disease.Methods Literature is reviewed in three specific areas regarding positive attributes and cardiac disease: (1) associations between positive attributes and cardiac outcomes, (2) potential mechanisms-both behavioral and physiologic-by which positive psychological states may impact cardiovascular health, and (3) interventions aimed at cultivating positive psychological attributes in healthy and medically ill persons.Results There is significant evidence that positive psychological attributes--especially optimism--may be independently associated with superior cardiac outcomes. Positive attributes appear to be associated with increased participation in cardiac health behaviors (e.g., healthy eating, physical activity) linked to beneficial outcomes; data linking positive psychological states and biomarkers of cardiac health (e.g., inflammatory markers) is mixed but suggests a potential association. Positive psychological interventions have consistently been associated with improved well-being and reduced depressive symptoms, though there have been few such studies in the medically ill.Conclusions These findings regarding the relationship between positive psychological attributes and cardiac health are promising and suggest that positive psychology interventions may be worth study in this population. However, questions remain about the strength and specificity of these relationships, the most salient positive psychological attributes, and the impact of positive psychological interventions on health outcomes in cardiac patients.

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  • Optimism and depression are only moderately correlated (median r = -.43 in 10 studies), signaling that these constructs are not simply two sides of the same coin.

    “For example, optimism and depression are only moderately correlated (median r = -.43 in 10 studies [9]), signaling that these constructs are not simply two sides of the same coin.”

    From Feasibility and utility of positive psychology exercises for suicidal inpatients (2014) · cites this paper as [9]

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Hedlund, 1979, The Hamilton rating scale for depression: a comprehensive review, J Operational Psychiatry, 10, 149
  2. Bandiera, 2002, Transcultural validation of the Life Orientation Test, Estud Psicol, 7, 251

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Authors
DuBois, C. M., Beach, S. R., Kashdan, T. B., Nyer, M. B., Park, E. R., Celano, C. M., & Huffman, J. C.
Affiliations
  • Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • George Mason University (US)
Corresponding author
Huffman, Jeff C.
ORCID
Venue
Psychosomatics
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-07
Volume
53
Issue
4
Pages
303-318
ISSN
0033-3182 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.psym.2012.04.004
OpenAlex
W2025021034
Cited by
152
References
155
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 2
FWCI
1.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Psychosomatics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (R01-DP00336)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Health and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Keywords
optimism, gratitude, well-being, cardiac outcomes, cardiovascular health, positive psychology interventions, inflammatory markers, depressive symptoms
MeSH terms
Attitude, Depression, Emotions, Heart Diseases, Humans, Personal Satisfaction, Personality, Psychotherapy, Health Behavior

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