Positive affect and markers of inflammation: discrete positive emotions predict lower levels of inflammatory cytokines.

Stellar, Jennifer E.; John-Henderson, Neha; Anderson, Craig L.; Gordon, Amie M.; McNeil, Galen D.; Keltner, Dacher

doi:10.1037/emo0000033

Cited by 307Psychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionTryptophan and brain disordersStress Responses and Cortisol

Positive affect and markers of inflammation: discrete positive emotions predict lower levels of inflammatory cytokines.

Stellar, Jennifer E., John-Henderson, Neha, Anderson, Craig L., Gordon, Amie M., McNeil, Galen D., Keltner, Dacher·2015·Emotion

DOI 10.1037/emo0000033

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Abstract

Negative emotions are reliably associated with poorer health (e.g., Kiecolt-Glaser, McGuire, Robles, & Glaser, 2002), but only recently has research begun to acknowledge the important role of positive emotions for our physical health (Fredrickson, 2003). We examine the link between dispositional positive affect and one potential biological pathway between positive emotions and health-proinflammatory cytokines, specifically levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6). We hypothesized that greater trait positive affect would be associated with lower levels of IL-6 in a healthy sample. We found support for this hypothesis across two studies. We also explored the relationship between discrete positive emotions and IL-6 levels, finding that awe, measured in two different ways, was the strongest predictor of lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines. These effects held when controlling for relevant personality and health variables. This work suggests a potential biological pathway between positive emotions and health through proinflammatory cytokines.

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Selected inflammatory markers include cytokines known to be sensitive in humans to negative and positive affect.
“our selection of inflammatory markers included cytokines known to be sensitive in humans to negative and positive affect ( Anisman & Merali, 2003; Stellar et al., 2015)”
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BRIEF REPORT Positive Affect and Markers of Inflammation: Discrete Positive Emotions Predict Lower Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines
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Authors: Stellar, J. E., John-Henderson, N., Anderson, C. L., Gordon, A. M., McNeil, G. D., & Keltner, D.
Affiliations: University of Toronto (CA)
University of California, Berkeley (US)
ORCID: Stellar, Jennifer E.
Anderson, Craig L.
Gordon, Amie M.
McNeil, Galen D.
Keltner, Dacher
Venue: Emotion
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2015
Volume: 15
Issue: 2
Pages: 129-133
ISSN: 1528-3542 (ISSN-L)
1931-1516
DOI: 10.1037/emo0000033
OpenAlex: W2125381870
Cited by: 307
References: 30
Citations by year: 2026: 13 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 65 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 5
FWCI: 37.14
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Emotion (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: John Templeton Foundation (95524 and 88210)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords: positive affect, positive emotions, interleukin-6, inflammatory cytokines, inflammation, awe, emotions and health, trait positive affect
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Affect, Emotions, Female, Health Status, Humans, Inflammation, Male, Personality, Predictive Value of Tests, Biomarkers, Interleukin-6, Cytokines, Young Adult

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Positive affect and markers of inflammation: discrete positive emotions predict lower levels of inflammatory cytokines.

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