The DOI matches its Crossref record; 117 of the 118 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Positive Affect and Psychobiological Processes Relevant to Health
Open accessAbstract
Empirical evidence suggests that there are marked associations between positive psychological states and health outcomes, including reduced cardiovascular disease risk and increased resistance to infection. These observations have stimulated the investigation of behavioral and biological processes that might mediate protective effects. Evidence linking positive affect with health behaviors has been mixed, though recent cross-cultural research has documented associations with exercising regularly, not smoking, and prudent diet. At the biological level, cortisol output has been consistently shown to be lower among individuals reporting positive affect, and favorable associations with heart rate, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 have also been described. Importantly, these relationships are independent of negative affect and depressed mood, suggesting that positive affect may have distinctive biological correlates that can benefit health. At the same time, positive affect is associated with protective psychosocial factors such as greater social connectedness, perceived social support, optimism, and preference for adaptive coping responses. Positive affect may be part of a broader profile of psychosocial resilience that reduces risk of adverse physical health outcomes.
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“In contrast, higher baseline levels of positive psychological constructs, such as optimism and positive affect, are associated with greater subsequent improvements in health behaviors (and medical outcomes) in patients with type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions, controlling for baseline physical activity, medical illness severity, and depression. 9-11”
From Feasibility and acceptability of a positive psychological intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes (2016) · cites this paper as [10]
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“These prior studies 9-11 suggest a prospective and independent role of positive constructs on health behaviors, above and beyond the effects of medical variables and depression.”
From Feasibility and acceptability of a positive psychological intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes (2016) · cites this paper as [10]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Steptoe, A., Dockray, S., & Wardle, J.
- Affiliations
- University College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Steptoe, Andrew
- Venue
- Journal of Personality
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2009-11-17
- Volume
- 77
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1747-1776
- ISSN
- 0022-3506 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-6494
- PMC
- PMC2787693
- OpenAlex
- W2130611920
- Cited by
- 520
- References
- 118
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 87 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 41 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 40 · 2013: 32 · 2012: 28
- FWCI
- 3.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Personality (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Cancer Research UK
- British Heart Foundation
- National Institute on Aging (R37AG013196, R01AG013196)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- positive affect, health, cardiovascular risk, infection resistance, cortisol, heart rate, blood pressure, interleukin-6, inflammatory markers, health behavior, physical activity, smoking, diet, social connectedness, social support, optimism, adaptive coping, psychosocial resilience
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Affect, Happiness, Health Status, Humans, Quality of Life, Social Environment, Social Support, Socioeconomic Factors, Stress, Psychological, Health Behavior, Self Efficacy, Resilience, Psychological
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