Researchers ask why optimism is associated with health, pessimism with disease

[Guest guest]

Carolyn

Washington Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

So, be honest: Is that glass half-full or half-empty?

Personally, I tend toward the latter, though I secretly long to be one of

those Pollyannas who always look on the bright side of things and can remain

hopeful through a family crisis, two hours of downtown gridlock or any other

challenge. In fact, my New Year's resolution for '10 is to be more positive.

(Meanwhile, the pessimist in me is well aware that studies have shown that

roughly 80 percent of those who make such pledges give them up by

Valentine's Day.)

My hope is that positive thinking will make me not only happier but

healthier, in the long run. A recent study published in the journal

Circulation showed that a sunnier outlook on life is associated with a lower

risk of heart disease and mortality. The research, which tracked more than

97,000 women older than 50 for eight years, found that optimists were 9

percent less likely to develop heart disease and 14 percent less likely to

die from any cause than their pessimistic counterparts. Those with a high

degree of " cynical hostility " were 16 percent more likely than all others to

die during that same period.

" This is really consistent with a number of other studies in the past, with

the strongest findings in the realm of coronary heart disease: There is good

evidence to suggest optimism is protective and that pessimism seems to be

detrimental, when it comes to the development of disease and future

outcomes, " says Kubzansky, an associate professor at the Harvard

School of Public Health who has focused on these issues. " But what's a

little less clear is what the mechanisms are, or how that protective effect

occurs. "

Not surprisingly, environment seems to play some role in the equation. In

this study, for example, socioeconomic status was strongly tied to level of

optimism: The women with the most-positive outlook on life tended to be

wealthier, more educated, in better shape and less likely to smoke or to be

overweight. " It's not shocking that out of all the factors we looked at,

socioeconomic status was the most related to attitude, but even after

controlling for that, attitude was still related to health, so there's

something else going on, " says lead author Tindle, an internist and

assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

Tindle says several factors are probably at play.

One of the possibilities most interesting to scientists is that your

psychology has a direct effect on physiology, impacting blood pressure,

heart rate, stress hormone levels and immune function, all of which can

contribute to disease and mortality. For example, a study published last

year in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity found that higher levels of

pessimism are linked to unfavorable changes in inflammatory markers and

white blood cells.

Tindle and her co-authors found that optimistic types are more likely to

engage in healthy behaviors such as eating well, exercising more and smoking

less; they're also more likely to have better social relationships,

something that has been associated with positive health outcomes.

Finally, there is some evidence that optimistic women tend to adhere more

strictly to medical advice and treatment plans. The study " confirms what a

lot of physicians intrinsically know and experience over and over again, in

that the patients who see the world from a more positive view tend to be

better patients, " observes cardiologist Klodas, author of " Slay

the Giant: The Power of Prevention in Defeating Heart Disease. " " They are

more adherent to their regimen, actually take your advice and follow it, and

are much more enthusiastic about making the lifestyle changes that are so

critical for cardiovascular disease prevention, whether primary or

secondary, after you've had an event; they are just better partners in

care. "

However, Klodas does raise concerns about the link between optimism and

better health: " Is it the chicken or the egg? Are you a better patient

because you have an intrinsic optimistic attitude, or do you become more

optimistic because your outcomes are better because you're following a

regimen that's actually helping you get better? "

The study's authors, too, acknowledge that questions remain. " On the one

hand it seems intuitively obvious, but we're not there yet in terms of the

evidence we need in order to say optimism causes better health outcomes, "

says Tindle. " All we can say now is that optimism is associated with better

health outcomes, but without following people over a lifetime, we can't say

which came first. "

Although further research is necessary (and underway), Tindle stands firm in

her belief that a poor outlook on life is detrimental to health. " The

totality of evidence . . . points to the fact that sustained negativity is

toxic to health, and I would absolutely say that it's important for people

to try to reduce the amount of it in their lives. "

Coming from a long line of devoted pessimists, I can't help but wonder how

possible it is to revamp your attitude and fill that half-empty glass.

Though genetics do come into play, you're not necessarily destined for a

life of doom and gloom, says Maddux, a psychology professor at

Mason University. " It's not a matter of having an optimistic or pessimistic

gene, it's matter of having a brain or nervous system wired more toward the

optimistic or pessimistic end, with a lot of room for learning and exerting

control over your own outlook of life, " he explains. " We're really talking

about a continuum with high optimism on one end and low optimism or high

pessimism on the other end, and people fall somewhere in between. And

probably from time to time, depending on the situation, we move back and

forth between some range that's set by our DNA. "

Maddux and other experts suggest a variety of techniques for moving toward

the sunnier side of that spectrum, from cognitive behavioral therapy and

lifestyle changes such as sleeping more and making additional time for

friends, to relaxation techniques such as meditation and yoga.

" These things do not directly impact optimism, per se, but may make it

easier to view the world through a happier, more optimistic lens and

increase the general sense of positive feelings, " says Harvard's Kubzansky.

" There's a lot of room to maneuver; I'm very optimistic about that. We do

come into the world with an inherent tendency, but then there's room to

shape it. "

Yet she acknowledges that it's hard work: " There are lots of ways to achieve

it, but I don't think any are trivial. . . . Different people may get there

differently, but at some level there needs to be a commitment on their part

to figure out 'What are my habitual ways of thinking, and how can I change

them so other things become habitual?' There has to be concerted effort and

thought put into how you're going to make meaningful change. That said, I

think it can definitely be done. "

Still, Klodas isn't ready to start prescribing an attitude shift to her

cardiology patients just yet. " There are many positives to being more

positive, but based on this research, we still don't know for sure whether

an attitude change will actually impact health outcomes, " she says, although

she remains, well, optimistic that proof is on the way. " I hope somebody

does a study and shows it, because it would be really nice to work on. I

would much rather try to help somebody get a better attitude than prescribe

another pill. "

[Guest guest]

Hi folks:

What I have never understood about studies of this type is why they always

compare 'optimists' with 'pessimists'.

How about those who look at an issue - or a situation - realistically, take an

attitude to it that befits the evidence, whatever it is, and then react/respond

accordingly?

For example, a patient having taken a carotid IMT test and being told: " Your

number came out at 1.1 which is bad " who looks on 'the bright side' might say

something like: " Well I feel fine and it hasn't killed me has it? So I am not

going to worry about it. " He sounds like an 'optimist' to me. But I personally

would not want to be in his shoes. When I say this I have in mind someone I

know who has exactly this, 'optimistic' but not realistic, attitude.

Indeed, how about the hordes of people - probably the substantial majority - who

pay little or no attention to their health until the roof caves in on them?

They must all be 'optimists' because for them the bright side is that they are

just not going to worry themselves about it.

I suppose all of us here should be classified as pessimists because, having

considered the facts about the high incidence of various diseases, we concern

(worry?) ourselves about it enough to go to considerable lengths to modify our

behavior ......... although perhaps it is desirable to distinguish between

hypochondria and rational, evidence-based concern about matters of health.

So, in my judgement, at least as it relates to health, optimism is over rated.

Rodney.

>

>

> Carolyn

> Washington Post Staff Writer

> Tuesday, January 12, 2010

>

> So, be honest: Is that glass half-full or half-empty?

>

> Personally, I tend toward the latter, though I secretly long to be one of

> those Pollyannas who always look on the bright side of things and can remain

> hopeful through a family crisis, two hours of downtown gridlock or any other

> challenge. In fact, my New Year's resolution for '10 is to be more positive.

> (Meanwhile, the pessimist in me is well aware that studies have shown that

> roughly 80 percent of those who make such pledges give them up by

> Valentine's Day.)

>

> My hope is that positive thinking will make me not only happier but

> healthier, in the long run. A recent study published in the journal

> Circulation showed that a sunnier outlook on life is associated with a lower

> risk of heart disease and mortality. The research, which tracked more than

> 97,000 women older than 50 for eight years, found that optimists were 9

> percent less likely to develop heart disease and 14 percent less likely to

> die from any cause than their pessimistic counterparts. Those with a high

> degree of " cynical hostility " were 16 percent more likely than all others to

> die during that same period.

>

> " This is really consistent with a number of other studies in the past, with

> the strongest findings in the realm of coronary heart disease: There is good

> evidence to suggest optimism is protective and that pessimism seems to be

> detrimental, when it comes to the development of disease and future

> outcomes, " says Kubzansky, an associate professor at the Harvard

> School of Public Health who has focused on these issues. " But what's a

> little less clear is what the mechanisms are, or how that protective effect

> occurs. "

>

> Not surprisingly, environment seems to play some role in the equation. In

> this study, for example, socioeconomic status was strongly tied to level of

> optimism: The women with the most-positive outlook on life tended to be

> wealthier, more educated, in better shape and less likely to smoke or to be

> overweight. " It's not shocking that out of all the factors we looked at,

> socioeconomic status was the most related to attitude, but even after

> controlling for that, attitude was still related to health, so there's

> something else going on, " says lead author Tindle, an internist and

> assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

>

> Tindle says several factors are probably at play.

>

> One of the possibilities most interesting to scientists is that your

> psychology has a direct effect on physiology, impacting blood pressure,

> heart rate, stress hormone levels and immune function, all of which can

> contribute to disease and mortality. For example, a study published last

> year in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity found that higher levels of

> pessimism are linked to unfavorable changes in inflammatory markers and

> white blood cells.

>

> Tindle and her co-authors found that optimistic types are more likely to

> engage in healthy behaviors such as eating well, exercising more and smoking

> less; they're also more likely to have better social relationships,

> something that has been associated with positive health outcomes.

>

> Finally, there is some evidence that optimistic women tend to adhere more

> strictly to medical advice and treatment plans. The study " confirms what a

> lot of physicians intrinsically know and experience over and over again, in

> that the patients who see the world from a more positive view tend to be

> better patients, " observes cardiologist Klodas, author of " Slay

> the Giant: The Power of Prevention in Defeating Heart Disease. " " They are

> more adherent to their regimen, actually take your advice and follow it, and

> are much more enthusiastic about making the lifestyle changes that are so

> critical for cardiovascular disease prevention, whether primary or

> secondary, after you've had an event; they are just better partners in

> care. "

>

> However, Klodas does raise concerns about the link between optimism and

> better health: " Is it the chicken or the egg? Are you a better patient

> because you have an intrinsic optimistic attitude, or do you become more

> optimistic because your outcomes are better because you're following a

> regimen that's actually helping you get better? "

>

> The study's authors, too, acknowledge that questions remain. " On the one

> hand it seems intuitively obvious, but we're not there yet in terms of the

> evidence we need in order to say optimism causes better health outcomes, "

> says Tindle. " All we can say now is that optimism is associated with better

> health outcomes, but without following people over a lifetime, we can't say

> which came first. "

>

> Although further research is necessary (and underway), Tindle stands firm in

> her belief that a poor outlook on life is detrimental to health. " The

> totality of evidence . . . points to the fact that sustained negativity is

> toxic to health, and I would absolutely say that it's important for people

> to try to reduce the amount of it in their lives. "

>

> Coming from a long line of devoted pessimists, I can't help but wonder how

> possible it is to revamp your attitude and fill that half-empty glass.

>

> Though genetics do come into play, you're not necessarily destined for a

> life of doom and gloom, says Maddux, a psychology professor at

> Mason University. " It's not a matter of having an optimistic or pessimistic

> gene, it's matter of having a brain or nervous system wired more toward the

> optimistic or pessimistic end, with a lot of room for learning and exerting

> control over your own outlook of life, " he explains. " We're really talking

> about a continuum with high optimism on one end and low optimism or high

> pessimism on the other end, and people fall somewhere in between. And

> probably from time to time, depending on the situation, we move back and

> forth between some range that's set by our DNA. "

>

> Maddux and other experts suggest a variety of techniques for moving toward

> the sunnier side of that spectrum, from cognitive behavioral therapy and

> lifestyle changes such as sleeping more and making additional time for

> friends, to relaxation techniques such as meditation and yoga.

>

> " These things do not directly impact optimism, per se, but may make it

> easier to view the world through a happier, more optimistic lens and

> increase the general sense of positive feelings, " says Harvard's Kubzansky.

> " There's a lot of room to maneuver; I'm very optimistic about that. We do

> come into the world with an inherent tendency, but then there's room to

> shape it. "

>

> Yet she acknowledges that it's hard work: " There are lots of ways to achieve

> it, but I don't think any are trivial. . . . Different people may get there

> differently, but at some level there needs to be a commitment on their part

> to figure out 'What are my habitual ways of thinking, and how can I change

> them so other things become habitual?' There has to be concerted effort and

> thought put into how you're going to make meaningful change. That said, I

> think it can definitely be done. "

>

> Still, Klodas isn't ready to start prescribing an attitude shift to her

> cardiology patients just yet. " There are many positives to being more

> positive, but based on this research, we still don't know for sure whether

> an attitude change will actually impact health outcomes, " she says, although

> she remains, well, optimistic that proof is on the way. " I hope somebody

> does a study and shows it, because it would be really nice to work on. I

> would much rather try to help somebody get a better attitude than prescribe

> another pill. "

>

[Guest guest]

Hi JW!

You have prompted me to check the definition of 'optimism', which I had not done

prior to my earlier post. I found the following:

" Main Entry: op·ti·mism

Pronunciation: \ & #712;äp-t & #601;- & #716;mi-z & #601;m\

Function: noun

Etymology: French optimisme, from Latin optimum, noun, best, from neuter of

optimus best; akin to Latin ops power — more at opulent

Date: 1759

1 : a doctrine that this world is the best possible world

2 : an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and

events or to anticipate the best possible outcome. "

These days there is extensive information available from readily accessible

sources about how best to preserve health and extend lifespan. But it seems

that the majority choose to ignore this information, and not infrequently do the

very opposite of what the information suggests. Are not these people

" anticipating the best possible outcome " from their inaction? Or do you think

they are anticipating that as a result of their inaction they will die early

after being sick for many years from largely avoidable diseases?

I dunno. Perhaps some are expecting the latter? But then if so, would they be

classified as optimists? I have no difficulty with the idea that inveterate

pessimism is likely to be injurious to health. But I do have trouble with

*unwarranted* optimism.

Rodney.

> >

> >

> > Carolyn

> > Washington Post Staff Writer

> > Tuesday, January 12, 2010

> >

> > So, be honest: Is that glass half-full or half-empty?

> >

> > Personally, I tend toward the latter, though I secretly long to be one of

> > those Pollyannas who always look on the bright side of things and can

remain

> > hopeful through a family crisis, two hours of downtown gridlock or any

other

> > challenge. In fact, my New Year's resolution for '10 is to be more

positive.

> > (Meanwhile, the pessimist in me is well aware that studies have shown that

> > roughly 80 percent of those who make such pledges give them up by

> > Valentine's Day.)

> >

> > My hope is that positive thinking will make me not only happier but

> > healthier, in the long run. A recent study published in the journal

> > Circulation showed that a sunnier outlook on life is associated with a

lower

> > risk of heart disease and mortality. The research, which tracked more than

> > 97,000 women older than 50 for eight years, found that optimists were 9

> > percent less likely to develop heart disease and 14 percent less likely to

> > die from any cause than their pessimistic counterparts. Those with a high

> > degree of " cynical hostility " were 16 percent more likely than all others

to

> > die during that same period.

> >

> > " This is really consistent with a number of other studies in the past,

with

> > the strongest findings in the realm of coronary heart disease: There is

good

> > evidence to suggest optimism is protective and that pessimism seems to be

> > detrimental, when it comes to the development of disease and future

> > outcomes, " says Kubzansky, an associate professor at the Harvard

> > School of Public Health who has focused on these issues. " But what's a

> > little less clear is what the mechanisms are, or how that protective

effect

> > occurs. "

> >

> > Not surprisingly, environment seems to play some role in the equation. In

> > this study, for example, socioeconomic status was strongly tied to level

of

> > optimism: The women with the most-positive outlook on life tended to be

> > wealthier, more educated, in better shape and less likely to smoke or to

be

> > overweight. " It's not shocking that out of all the factors we looked at,

> > socioeconomic status was the most related to attitude, but even after

> > controlling for that, attitude was still related to health, so there's

> > something else going on, " says lead author Tindle, an internist and

> > assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

> >

> > Tindle says several factors are probably at play.

> >

> > One of the possibilities most interesting to scientists is that your

> > psychology has a direct effect on physiology, impacting blood pressure,

> > heart rate, stress hormone levels and immune function, all of which can

> > contribute to disease and mortality. For example, a study published last

> > year in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity found that higher levels

of

> > pessimism are linked to unfavorable changes in inflammatory markers and

> > white blood cells.

> >

> > Tindle and her co-authors found that optimistic types are more likely to

> > engage in healthy behaviors such as eating well, exercising more and

smoking

> > less; they're also more likely to have better social relationships,

> > something that has been associated with positive health outcomes.

> >

> > Finally, there is some evidence that optimistic women tend to adhere more

> > strictly to medical advice and treatment plans. The study " confirms what a

> > lot of physicians intrinsically know and experience over and over again,

in

> > that the patients who see the world from a more positive view tend to be

> > better patients, " observes cardiologist Klodas, author of " Slay

> > the Giant: The Power of Prevention in Defeating Heart Disease. " " They are

> > more adherent to their regimen, actually take your advice and follow it,

and

> > are much more enthusiastic about making the lifestyle changes that are so

> > critical for cardiovascular disease prevention, whether primary or

> > secondary, after you've had an event; they are just better partners in

> > care. "

> >

> > However, Klodas does raise concerns about the link between optimism and

> > better health: " Is it the chicken or the egg? Are you a better patient

> > because you have an intrinsic optimistic attitude, or do you become more

> > optimistic because your outcomes are better because you're following a

> > regimen that's actually helping you get better? "

> >

> > The study's authors, too, acknowledge that questions remain. " On the one

> > hand it seems intuitively obvious, but we're not there yet in terms of the

> > evidence we need in order to say optimism causes better health outcomes, "

> > says Tindle. " All we can say now is that optimism is associated with

better

> > health outcomes, but without following people over a lifetime, we can't

say

> > which came first. "

> >

> > Although further research is necessary (and underway), Tindle stands firm

in

> > her belief that a poor outlook on life is detrimental to health. " The

> > totality of evidence . . . points to the fact that sustained negativity is

> > toxic to health, and I would absolutely say that it's important for people

> > to try to reduce the amount of it in their lives. "

> >

> > Coming from a long line of devoted pessimists, I can't help but wonder how

> > possible it is to revamp your attitude and fill that half-empty glass.

> >

> > Though genetics do come into play, you're not necessarily destined for a

> > life of doom and gloom, says Maddux, a psychology professor at

> > Mason University. " It's not a matter of having an optimistic or

pessimistic

> > gene, it's matter of having a brain or nervous system wired more toward

the

> > optimistic or pessimistic end, with a lot of room for learning and

exerting

> > control over your own outlook of life, " he explains. " We're really talking

> > about a continuum with high optimism on one end and low optimism or high

> > pessimism on the other end, and people fall somewhere in between. And

> > probably from time to time, depending on the situation, we move back and

> > forth between some range that's set by our DNA. "

> >

> > Maddux and other experts suggest a variety of techniques for moving toward

> > the sunnier side of that spectrum, from cognitive behavioral therapy and

> > lifestyle changes such as sleeping more and making additional time for

> > friends, to relaxation techniques such as meditation and yoga.

> >

> > " These things do not directly impact optimism, per se, but may make it

> > easier to view the world through a happier, more optimistic lens and

> > increase the general sense of positive feelings, " says Harvard's

Kubzansky.

> > " There's a lot of room to maneuver; I'm very optimistic about that. We do

> > come into the world with an inherent tendency, but then there's room to

> > shape it. "

> >

> > Yet she acknowledges that it's hard work: " There are lots of ways to

achieve

> > it, but I don't think any are trivial. . . . Different people may get

there

> > differently, but at some level there needs to be a commitment on their

part

> > to figure out 'What are my habitual ways of thinking, and how can I change

> > them so other things become habitual?' There has to be concerted effort

and

> > thought put into how you're going to make meaningful change. That said, I

> > think it can definitely be done. "

> >

> > Still, Klodas isn't ready to start prescribing an attitude shift to her

> > cardiology patients just yet. " There are many positives to being more

> > positive, but based on this research, we still don't know for sure whether

> > an attitude change will actually impact health outcomes, " she says,

although

> > she remains, well, optimistic that proof is on the way. " I hope somebody

> > does a study and shows it, because it would be really nice to work on. I

> > would much rather try to help somebody get a better attitude than

prescribe

> > another pill. "

> >

>

>

>

>

>

> __________ NOD32 4389 (20090902) Information __________

>

> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.

> http://www.eset.com

>