Effects of a Positive Attitude
On Health as We Age©2014
(Foreword)
This is a paper I wrote as a college essay and is still a work in progress. I'll be adding to and editing this paper as this is a subject of great interest to me. I will most likely expand on this paper and include some statistics concerning the effects of negative cognition's on our health as we age. I've included a link to Seligmans report at the end of this paper. Mr. Seligman's references are in italics and/or quotation marks. I also added Mr. Mamali's suggestion and replaced the word experiment with "set of studies."
P.s.- I received an A on this paper.
______________________________________________________________
Cover sheet
Northeast
Iowa Community College
Effects
of a Positive Attitude
On
Health as We Age©2014
Dan
Dickerson
Psychology
of Aging
2014
Catalin Mamali Ph.D.
Instructor
Instructor
____________________________________________
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.
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,
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,
(Applied
Psychology An International Review, 2008, 57, 3-18 doi;10.111/j.1464-0597.2008.
00351.x)
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.
_____________________________________________________________
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:
"Health is a state of complete positive physical,
mental, and social well-being
and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity."
(Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization,
1946)
(Seligman, M.
(2008). APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW. 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
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 cognition's, positive emotion,
engagement, purpose, positive relationships, positive accomplishment may be one
of our best weapons against mental disorder.
(Seligman, M.
(2008). APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW. Applied Psychology,
(57), 3-18. doi: 10.111/j.1464-0597.2008.00351.x)
Biological:
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 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. (Seligman, M.
(2008). APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW. 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 expected to be in poor
health, while the other expected 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 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 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 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 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 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.
( Seligman, M.
(2008). APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW. Applied Psychology,
(57), 3-18. doi: 10.111/j.1464-0597.2008.00351.x. pg.6)
Subjective or Emotional
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;
(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, M.
(2008). APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW. Applied Psychology,
(57), 3-18. doi: 10.111/j.1464-0597.2008.00351.x. pg.7-8)
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, M.
(2008). APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW. Applied Psychology,
(57), 3-18. doi: 10.111/j.1464-0597.2008.00351.x)
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,
productivity, and health
(directed by Peterson and Seligman).
• The development of
national well-being indicators to supplement
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, M.
(2008). APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW. Applied Psychology,
(57), 3-18. doi: 10.111/j.1464-0597.2008.00351.x. pg. 13)
Conclusion:
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.
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.")
("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.")
A positive mental attitude seems to
be a predictor of longevity, satisfaction, (feel good), improved cardiovascular
health, and overall health in general.
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