Autor: Julio Cesar Tafforelli | Publicado: 2014-06-11T11:47:00-07:00


Effects of a Positive Attitude

On Health as We Age©2014

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dan Dickerson

Psychology of Aging

2014



Catalin Mamali Ph.D.
Instructor

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&nbsp;Abstract:



Martin Seligman has revolutionized the field of psychology with his hypothesis of “Positive Psychology.” In essence he describes his initial opinion, when elected as President-elect of the American Psychological Association, in such a manner.&nbsp;The field of Psychology had done a good job in the area of mental illness: depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. But the field of psychology/psychiatry had done poorly with mental health: positive emotion, engagement, purpose, positive relationships, and positive accomplishment.In this paper, I will hypothesize that a positive mental attitude/thinking can increase overall physical, emotional, intellectual, and social well being in the aging process. I will use Seligman’s findings from his writing in,&nbsp;

(Applied Psychology An International Review, 2008, 57, 3-18 doi;10.111/j.1464-0597.2008. 00351.x)&nbsp;

also in pdf form, which will be attached to this paper. Along with Mr. Seligman’s empirical findings, I will also use my own critical thinking and/or life’s experiences and observations to validate or refute Mr. Seligman’s findings.

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&nbsp;Introduction

The effects of a positive mental attitude on overall health, longevity, and aging cannot be underestimated. Martin Seligman refers to this as positive health. He does not limit positive psychology/thinking to cognitive processes, but includes the benefits to overall health and well being of the individual physically, socially, intellectually, and emotionally or with an overall satisfaction in life. Seligman also refers to these aspects as Biological, Functional, and Subjective health. The absence of biological disease does not necessarily equate to overall health. The World Health Organization in 1946 offered this definition of health:



&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Health is a state of complete positive physical, mental, and social well-being

and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

&nbsp;(Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization, 1946)

&nbsp;(Seligman,&nbsp;M. (2008). APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW.&nbsp;Applied Psychology, (57), 3-18. doi: 10.111/j.1464-0597.2008.00351.x.pg.4)



The goal of this paper is to examine Martin Seligman's hypothesis that a positive mental attitude or optimism, can have positive health benefits such as longevity, physical, mental, and social well-being.



I have noticed in my own life and the life of others, that those who have a positive outlook have a better sense of well being and are generally more healthy, look younger, and enjoy their relationships&nbsp;

Likewise, I have noticed that when I or others have been more negative about life’s circumstances and/or the future, then there is a definite correlation between poor health a pessimism. In general, people do desire overall health and well-being, yet sometimes do not understand the dynamics that their own cognitive processes play in the achievement of good health. Let us examine Mr. Seligman’s findings, first with the Biological benefits of positive&nbsp;cognition's,&nbsp;positive emotion, engagement, purpose, positive relationships, positive accomplishment may be one of our best weapons against mental disorder.

(Seligman,&nbsp;M. (2008). APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW.&nbsp;Applied Psychology, (57), 3-18. doi: 10.111/j.1464-0597.2008.00351.x)



Biological:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In relation to Cardiovascular Disease, a positive mental attitude indicates a direct link to increased longevity and improved prognosis. For example in one study

• Giltay, Geleijnse, Zitman, Hoekstra, and Schouten (2004) followed 999 Dutch seniors for a decade: high optimism produced a remarkably low hazard ratio of 0.23 for CVD death (upper versus lower quartile&nbsp;of optimism, 95% confidence interval, 0.10–0.55) when controlling for age, sex, chronic disease, education, smoking, alcohol, history of CVD, body mass, and cholesterol level. Similarly, Buchanan (1995) found that among 96 men who had had their first heart attack, 15 of the 16 most pessimistic men died of CVD over the next decade, while only 5 of the 16 most optimistic died, controlling for major risk factors.&nbsp;(Seligman,&nbsp;M. (2008). APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW.&nbsp;Applied Psychology, (57), 3-18. doi: 10.111/j.1464-0597.2008.00351.x. pg.5)



This is an important finding because its implications in the treatment of Cardiovascular Disease. This does not mean that genetics are over-ruled. If someone has a family history of heart disease then there is a strong possibility that the individual will inherit the disease because of genetics. In my personal observations, I have known individuals who had multiple health issues, and in particular, Cardiovascular disease. I have also known individuals who were approximately the same age, gender who were in remarkable health. The only discernible difference between the two was that one&nbsp;expected to be in poor health, while the other&nbsp;expected&nbsp;to be in good health. Their view of the world was different also. The individual with CVD was very pessimistic about world issues and how they affected him while the other acknowledged the problems in the world, yet believed that somehow things would work out. They believed that they would be in a better position in life, in spite of the world’s problems.



Some other studies from Seligmans research include the following.• Optimism and positive emotions have also been linked to recovery after a major cardiac event. Leedham, Meyerowitz, Muirhead, and Frist (1995) interviewed 31 heart-transplant patients both before and after surgery. Those who reported a high level of positive expectation&nbsp;and good mood before the surgery were found to have greater adherence to medical regimen after surgery, as well as a better status report obtained by nursing 6 months post-operation.

• Optimism and positive affect may also be protective against other physical deteriorations. Ostir, Ottenbacher, and Markides (2004) followed 1,558 initially non-frail older Mexican-Americans for 7 years. Frailty increased by 7.9% over the course of follow-up, but those men with high positive&nbsp;affect were found to have a significantly lower risk of frailty onset.

• Positive emotional style (PES) may also act as preventive against the onset of the common cold. Cohen, Alper, Doyle, Treanor, and Turner (2006) administered nasal drops carrying either rhinovirus or influenza&nbsp;to 193 healthy normal volunteers, ranging in age from 21 to 55. They found that a high level of PES was associated with a lower risk of developing either of the two conditions, manifest as upper respiratory conditions.&nbsp;

&nbsp;( Seligman,&nbsp;M. (2008). APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW.&nbsp;Applied Psychology, (57), 3-18. doi: 10.111/j.1464-0597.2008.00351.x. pg.6)



Subjective or Emotional

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When a person “feels” good they are generally referring to a mental state of being that causes them to have a positive outlook on life and their personal circumstances. I prefer to replace the word feeling with satisfaction or contentment. Drawing from personal experience, again, I have known people who had every reason to be negative about life. They were financially destitute, or suffered from some physical ailment. Yet because of their positive attitude they were content and satisfied with their life. It did not mean they had no goals to better their lot in life; satisfaction and contentment are not synonymous with passivity. Rather, they are a perspective concerning the present that benefits the future, and are often combined with short and long term goals (positive engagement).

Seligman stated it this way in his report,

• Subjective—when a person feels great, defined by high ends of measures of several psychological states. These states are:

(a) a sense of positive physical well-being. The individual enjoys a sense of energy, vigor,

vitality, robustness (as opposed to a sense of vulnerability to disease, tenuousness of health status, health-related anxiety);

(b) the absence of bothersome symptoms, measured, for example by the Somatic Symptom Inventory;

(c) a sense of durability, hardiness, and confidence about one’s body (as opposed to a sense of fragility, susceptibility to disease);

(d) an internal health-related locus of control so that the individual feels a measure of control over health;

&nbsp;(e) optimism, measured for example by the Attributional Style Questionnaire and by content analysis of verbatim materials, and confidence about one’s future health (as opposed to anxiety, bodily preoccupation, disease fear);

(f) high life satisfaction, as measured for example by Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q); and

(g) positive emotion, minimal and appropriate negative emotion, high sense of engagement and meaning.

(Seligman,&nbsp;M. (2008). APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW.&nbsp;Applied Psychology, (57), 3-18. doi: 10.111/j.1464-0597.2008.00351.x. pg.7-8)



&nbsp;Four questions were formulated by which they could be used to draw conclusions.

1. We can ask if high status on positive physical health—over and above

absence of positive physical illness—predicts longevity, costs, and

prognosis when illness strikes.

2. We can ask if high status on positive physical health—over and above

the absence of positive physical illness—predicts excellent mental

health as one ages.

3. We can ask if high status on mental health—over and above the

absence of mental illness—predicts longevity, costs, and prognosis

when illness strikes.

4. We can ask if high status on mental health—over and above the absence

(Seligman,&nbsp;M. (2008). APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW.&nbsp;Applied Psychology, (57), 3-18. doi: 10.111/j.1464-0597.2008.00351.x)



&nbsp;Seligman seems to equate positive mental health and positive health as one and the same. In other words positive mental health translates into positive physical, social, functional health.



In one set of studies conducted over an 11 month period of time Seligman sought to validate his hypothesis by the following:

• How positive emotion, engagement, and meaning build life satisfaction,

&nbsp; &nbsp; productivity, and health (directed by Peterson and Seligman).

• The development of national well-being indicators to supplement

&nbsp; &nbsp; economic indicators (directed by Diener).

• The study of spirituality in successful lives (directed by Vaillant).

• The study of Psychological Capital (directed by Csikszentmihalyi).

• The development of mirror Chinese and Spanish websites for

www.authentichappiness.org (directed by Peterson and Seligman).



"In the 11 months between each of the three residency periods, we carried out these projects back in our home laboratories. It worked. By subjective report, this grizzled group of senior scientists called it the “best intellectual experience of their lives”, and the junior fellows concurred. By objective deliverables, it was enormously productive."

(Seligman,&nbsp;M. (2008). APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW.&nbsp;Applied Psychology, (57), 3-18. doi: 10.111/j.1464-0597.2008.00351.x. pg. 13)





Conclusion:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Positive Health is more than freedom from physical infirmities. A Positive Mental attitude about life, social relationships, self worth, and a person’s own personal meaning and history play an important role in their overall positive health. Studies have indicated that an individual with a positive outlook generally lives seven and a half years longer than those who are more pessimistic about the same subject matter.



&nbsp;As Martin Seligman stated concerning Functional Main Effect,("The person–environment fit—the optimal state of adaptation between one’s bodily function and the positive physical requirements and demands of one’s chosen lifestyle: work, love, and play given that person’s choice of lifestyle—is central to measuring how well a person functions.")&nbsp;

&nbsp;(Seligman,&nbsp;M. (2008). APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW.&nbsp;Applied Psychology, (57), 3-18. doi: 10.111/j.1464-0597.2008.00351.x. pg. 15)



&nbsp;A positive mental attitude seems to be a predictor of longevity, satisfaction, (feel good), improved cardiovascular health, and overall health in general.



Martin Seligman's report "Positive Health"