Optimism and Physical Health: A Meta-analytic Review
By Heather N. Rasmussen, M. Scheier, J. Greenhouse. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 2009
812 citations recorded by the source corpus.
BackgroundPrior research links optimism to physical health, but the strength of the association has not been systematically evaluated.PurposeThe purpose of this study is to conduct a meta-analytic review to determine the strength of the association between optimism and physical health.MethodsThe findings from 83 studies, with 108 effect sizes (ESs), were included in the analyses, using random-effects models.ResultsOverall, the mean ES characterizing the relationship between optimism and physical health outcomes was 0.17, p < .001. ESs were larger for studies using subjective (versus objective) measures of physical health. Subsidiary analyses were also conducted grouping studies into those that focused solely on mortality, survival, cardiovascular outcomes, physiological markers (including immune function), immune function only, cancer outcomes, outcomes related to pregnancy, physical symptoms, or pain. In each case, optimism was a significant predictor of health outcomes or markers, all p < .001.ConclusionsOptimism is a significant predictor of positive physical health outcomes.
Subfields: Applied Psychology, Economics and Econometrics, Genetics
View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/9f8ad9a99a8fa9505b7affd0c2f83acdc01af3ab
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Citations in the corpus
- New Look at Social Support: A Theoretical Perspective on Thriving through Relationships (2014, background): “Reis, H. T., Clark, M. S., & Holmes, J. G. (2004). Perceived partner responsiveness as an organizing construct in the study of intimacy and closeness.”
- Can psychological interventions increase optimism? A meta-analysis (2017, background): “Higher optimism may have various physical and mental health benefits (Brummett et al., 2006; Carver et al., 2010; Galatzer-Levy & Bonanno, 2014; Prati & Pietrantoni, 2009; Rasmussen et al., 2009).”
- The Objective Benefits of Subjective Well-Being (2013, background): “For example, Rasmussen et al. (2009) found that pregnant women who were more optimistic tended to miscarry less frequently and have babies of a healthy weight.”
- Psychological Perspectives on Pathways Linking Socioeconomic Status and Physical Health (2011, background): “Research suggests that these variables can exert salutary effects (Rasmussen et al. 2009, Uchino 2006), and when present in abundance, such resources may be able to protect individuals from the adverse health consequences of material deprivation (Lachman & Weaver 1998).”