Positive emotional well-being, health Behaviors, and inflammation measured by C-Reactive protein
Abstract
Objective There is a substantial body of literature describing the association between inflammatory biomarkers and negative emotional factors (i.e. depression). However, less is known about how they might be related to positive psychological variables. This study examined the association between positive emotional well-being (PEWB) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP), an inflammatory biomarker important for cardiovascular and other diseases. Method Data were analyzed from 1979 respondents to a nationwide survey in the U.S., which included a chronically ill subgroup. Two aspects of PEWB were assessed; positive affect and life satisfaction. CRP was analyzed via blood-spot from a finger-prick. The mediating role of health behaviors (i.e., smoking, alcohol, BMI, and moderate exercise) was also examined. Results Both positive affect and life satisfaction were significantly related to lower CRP even after controlling for demographics and depression, in both the overall sample and chronically ill group. Only life satisfaction remained significantly related to CRP when controlling for health behaviors. When both depression and health behaviors were controlled, neither positive affect nor life satisfaction was significantly related to CRP. Moderate exercise emerged as the strongest mediator, followed by BMI and smoking. Individuals with low positive affect or low life satisfaction were at increased odds (OR = 1.40 and OR = 1.54, respectively) of having clinically elevated (≥3 mg/L) CRP. Conc…
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Some, but not all, other studies have found relationships between positive psychological factors and healthy immune response or lower levels of inflammation.
“Some, but not all, other studies have similarly found relationships between positive psychological factors and healthy immune response or lower levels of inflammation. 54,133-135”
From Psychological Health, Well-Being, and the Mind-Heart-Body Connection: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2021) · cites this paper as [133]
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- Authors
- Ironson, G., Banerjee, N., Fitch, C., & Krause, N.
- Affiliations
- University of Miami (US)
- University of Michigan (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ironson, Gail
- Venue
- Social Science & Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-01
- Volume
- 197
- Pages
- 235-243
- ISSN
- 0277-9536 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2726247060
- Cited by
- 78
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4
- FWCI
- 9.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Social Science & Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- John Templeton Foundation ((40077))
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health, psychology, and well-being
- Keywords
- C-reactive protein, inflammation, positive affect, life satisfaction, health behavior, moderate-intensity exercise, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, chronic disease, depression, cardiovascular risk
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, C-Reactive Protein, Emotions, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Male, Middle Aged, Personal Satisfaction, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States, Biomarkers, Health Behavior, Young Adult
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