A Meta-Analytical Review: Optimism And Physical Health
Jennifer Smith
Optimism and Health
PSY/220
Joshua Cohen
June 1, 2014
The first article that I found on the effects of optimism on physical health was called Optimism and Physical: A meta-analytic review. This article grabbed my attention because it gave the research of two different groups who were studying two outcomes of optimism and physical health. The first thing covered in the article was what optimism in terms of health is. Optimism was said to be a significant predictor of positive physical health outcomes. Interest in the relationship between personality characteristics and physical health has increased substantially over the past decades. In this article dispositional optimism was also a topic discussed. …show more content…
The article states that in today’s day and age, optimism has become a desirable characteristic, as well as an important part of human functioning. Optimism produces positive moods and serves as a motivator. In the article it states that “if a positive mood can be encouraged over period of time then access to positive emotions is inevitable and experiencing positive illusions can become a natural occurrence”. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as a state of well-being in which the individual realized his or her own abilities, they can cope with the normal stresses of life, and they can work productively, and are able to make a contribution to his or her community. Psychologists treat optimism as a cognitive characteristic (ex. Information processing, conceptual resources, perceptual skills, language learning, and other brain development). The importance of maintaining good mental health is crucial to living a long and healthy life. Personal health and wellness goes well beyond an absence of major mental illnesses or psychological disorders. Personal wellness involves the ability to enjoy life, to enjoy the present moment without worrying excessively about the future, having a healthy balance between work, recreation, family, and hobbies, and having the ability to deal with stress without becoming pessimistic, angry, or defeated. The mood that is experienced can influence the way an individual views his or her life. The way we process information can be altered depending on the mood being experienced, which in turn can affect our thoughts (Smith and Crabb, 2000). Positive emotion is related to longevity (Danner, Snowden, and Friesen, 2001). When people experience a positive feelings, their immunity increases and their bodies become more capable of
Optimism and Health
PSY/220
Joshua Cohen
June 1, 2014
The first article that I found on the effects of optimism on physical health was called Optimism and Physical: A meta-analytic review. This article grabbed my attention because it gave the research of two different groups who were studying two outcomes of optimism and physical health. The first thing covered in the article was what optimism in terms of health is. Optimism was said to be a significant predictor of positive physical health outcomes. Interest in the relationship between personality characteristics and physical health has increased substantially over the past decades. In this article dispositional optimism was also a topic discussed. …show more content…
The article states that in today’s day and age, optimism has become a desirable characteristic, as well as an important part of human functioning. Optimism produces positive moods and serves as a motivator. In the article it states that “if a positive mood can be encouraged over period of time then access to positive emotions is inevitable and experiencing positive illusions can become a natural occurrence”. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as a state of well-being in which the individual realized his or her own abilities, they can cope with the normal stresses of life, and they can work productively, and are able to make a contribution to his or her community. Psychologists treat optimism as a cognitive characteristic (ex. Information processing, conceptual resources, perceptual skills, language learning, and other brain development). The importance of maintaining good mental health is crucial to living a long and healthy life. Personal health and wellness goes well beyond an absence of major mental illnesses or psychological disorders. Personal wellness involves the ability to enjoy life, to enjoy the present moment without worrying excessively about the future, having a healthy balance between work, recreation, family, and hobbies, and having the ability to deal with stress without becoming pessimistic, angry, or defeated. The mood that is experienced can influence the way an individual views his or her life. The way we process information can be altered depending on the mood being experienced, which in turn can affect our thoughts (Smith and Crabb, 2000). Positive emotion is related to longevity (Danner, Snowden, and Friesen, 2001). When people experience a positive feelings, their immunity increases and their bodies become more capable of