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Cited by 452Psychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionOptimism, Hope, and Well-beingAging and Gerontology Research

Positive Affect and Health: What Do We Know and Where Next Should We Go?

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Pressman, Sarah D., Jenkins, Brooke N., Moskowitz, Judith T.·2019·Annual Review of Psychology
DOI 10.1146/annurev-psych-010418-102955
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Abstract

Positive affect (PA) is associated with better health across a wide range of physical health outcomes. This review reflects on why the study of PA is an essential component of our understanding of physical health and expands on pathways that connect these two variables. To encourage forward movement in this burgeoning research area, measurement and design issues in the study of PA and health are discussed, as are the connections between PA and a range of different health outcomes. Plausible biological, social, and behavioral pathways that allow for positive feelings to get under the skin and influence physical wellness are detailed and framed in the context of several theoretical models. Finally, new directions for the field and important methodological and interpretative considerations that are essential to moving this important research area forward are explored.

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128 of 128 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Positive affect protects against disease progression in the context of diabetes and other cardiometabolic conditions.

    “Other work has found that positive affect protects against disease progression in the context of diabetes and other cardiometabolic conditions. 77,78”

    From Psychological Health, Well-Being, and the Mind-Heart-Body Connection: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2021) · cites this paper as [78]

    The Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease passages (page unavailable) link positive affect with better survival and glycemic control in diabetes, and with lower cardiovascular disease severity and fewer cardiac events. They report associations and predictions, however, rather than establishing that positive affect causally protects against disease progression. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Positive emotionality is a core element of mental health and shows beneficial, generalized effects on health and functioning.

    “positive emotionality is considered a core element of mental health, showing beneficial, generalized effects on health and functioning [34-37].”

    From Negative and positive affect regulation in a transdiagnostic internet-based protocol for emotional disorders: Randomized controlled trial (2021) · cites this paper as [37]

    The Review of Positive Affect and Health section reports associations between positive affect and health outcomes, and the Social, Psychological/Intellectual, and Physical Resources section links it to coping and other aspects of functioning. The copy does not describe positive emotionality as a core element of mental health; its Conclusions also characterize the health evidence as promising but note important gaps, rather than establishing generalized beneficial effects. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. Bono JE, Glomb TM, Koch AJ. 2013. Building positive resources: effects of positive events and positive reflection on work stress and health. Georgia Institute of Technology. 56(6): 1601- 1627.
  2. Grad FP. 2002. The preamble of the constitution of the World Health Organization. Bul. of the World Health Org. 80(12): 981-981.
  3. Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, Harris T, Stephenson D. 2015. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality. Perspect. Psychol. Sci. 10(2): 227-237.
  4. Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. 2001. The phq-9. J. Gen. Intern. Med. 16(9): 606-613.
  5. Mroczek DK, Spiro A, Griffin PW, Neupert S, Schaie KW, Carstensen LL. 2006. Social influences on adult personality, self-regulation and health. Social structures, aging and self-regulation. pp. 69-84. New York: Spring.
  6. Sims TL, Carstensen LL. 2014. The elusiveness of a life-span model of emotion regulation. ISSBD Bul. 38(3):30-32.

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Authors
Pressman, S. D., Jenkins, B. N., & Moskowitz, J. T.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Irvine (US)
  • Chapman University (US)
  • Northwestern University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Annual Review of Psychology
Publisher
Annual Reviews
Published
2019-01-04
Volume
70
Issue
1
Pages
627-650
ISSN
  • 0066-4308 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-2085
DOI
10.1146/annurev-psych-010418-102955
OpenAlex
W2892394368
Cited by
452
References
128
Citations by year
2026: 39 · 2025: 63 · 2024: 71 · 2023: 58 · 2022: 57 · 2021: 65 · 2020: 76 · 2019: 23
FWCI
6.39
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Annual Review of Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Chapman University Digital Commons (Chapman University) (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
AXA Research Fund
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Keywords
positive affect, physical health, health outcomes, biological pathways, theoretical model
MeSH terms
Chronic Disease, Emotions, Health Status, Humans, Psychotherapy, Stress, Psychological

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