Optimism and health: what studies show
StressKey points
- Optimism: 35% fewer cardiovascular events, 14% lower mortality.
- Meta-analysis of 15 studies with more than 229,000 participants.
- Optimism does not mean denying problems.
- Mechanisms: healthier habits, less stress, more support.
What the research shows
Meta-analysis. Pooling 15 studies with 229,391 participants, researchers found that higher optimism was linked to a 35% lower risk of cardiovascular events and a 14% lower risk of death from any cause (Rozanski et al., 2019).
Resilience. Most people show resilience after loss or trauma (Bonanno, 2004), and optimistic expectations may support that process.
Stress and the heart. A brain imaging study found that higher activity in the amygdala, a stress-sensitive brain region, predicted cardiovascular events, offering one possible pathway linking psychological stress to heart disease (Tawakol et al., 2017).
Optimism and resilience
Realistic optimism means acknowledging difficulties while expecting that you can influence outcomes and that things can get better.
How to practice optimism
- Write about your “best possible self” in the future.
- Notice three things that went well each day and why.
- Challenge catastrophic thoughts: what is a more balanced view?
- Set small, achievable goals and celebrate progress.
Caveat
These are observational studies; optimism may reflect better health rather than cause it. But practicing optimism carries little risk.
Frequently asked questions
Is optimism genetic?
Partly. Studies estimate about a quarter of the variation is inherited; the rest is shaped by experience and can change.
What is the "best possible self" exercise?
Writing for 15 minutes about your life going as well as it could in the future. Studies show it boosts optimism in the short term.
Sources
- Rozanski et al. (2019). Association of Optimism With Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality. JAMA Network Open 2(9):e1912200. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.12200
- Bonanno (2004). Loss, Trauma, and Human Resilience: Have We Underestimated the Human Capacity to Thrive After Extremely Aversive Events?. American Psychologist 59(1):20-28. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.59.1.20
- Tawakol et al. (2017). Relation between resting amygdalar activity and cardiovascular events: a longitudinal and cohort study. The Lancet 389(10071):834-845. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31714-7
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