POSITIVE ATTITUDE OPTIMISM FULL
POSITIVE ATTITUDE OPTIMISM SERIES

The researchers tracked all the patients for six months after surgery. In addition to a complete pre-operative physical exam, each patient underwent a psychological evaluation designed to measure optimism, depression, neuroticism, and self-esteem. In one study, doctors evaluated 309 middle-aged patients who were scheduled to undergo coronary artery bypass surgery.

POSITIVE ATTITUDE OPTIMISM FULL

DeSylva and Kern tell us that a heart full of joy and gladness can banish trouble and strife - and now scientists tell us that optimism may help the heart itself. In some studies, researchers have concentrated on the link between optimism and specific medical conditions. Doctors don't know why fatal heart attacks declined perhaps a burst of optimism is responsible.

French men enjoyed a lower cardiovascular death rate on July 12 than on the average of the other days between July 7 and July 17, but French women did not. On July 12, France bested Brazil in the biggest sporting event ever held in France, the finals of the World Cup of soccer. Sports fans will get a kick from a French study of cardiovascular mortality in 1988. Researchers often use either the Attributional Style Questionnaire or the Content Analysis of Verbatim Explanations method to evaluate optimism based on explanatory style. Instead, he tends to give himself credit for good news, assume good things will last, and be confident that positive developments will spill over into many areas of his life. The optimist, on the other hand, does not assume blame for negative events. The pessimist assumes blame for bad news ('It's me'), assumes the situation is stable ('It will last forever'), and has a global impact ('It will affect everything I do'). Many researchers use the 12-item Life Orientation Test to measure dispositional optimism.Įxplanatory style is based on how a person explains good or bad news. These are not confined to one or two aspects of life, but are generalized expectations for a good outcome in several areas. Two systems are in widespread use one measures dispositional optimism, the other explanatory style.ĭispositional optimism depends on positive expectations for one's future. To investigate optimism, scientists first needed to develop reliable ways to measure the trait. Research tells us that an optimistic outlook early in life can predict better health and a lower rate of death during follow-up periods of 15 to 40 years. Even more impressive is the impact of a positive outlook on overall health and longevity. Optimism helps people cope with disease and recover from surgery.

POSITIVE ATTITUDE OPTIMISM SERIES

Indeed, a cheerful disposition can help you get through the tough patches that cloud every life, but do people who see the glass half-full also enjoy better health than gloomy types who see it half-empty?Īccording to a series of studies from the U.S.

No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.īuddy DeSylva's upbeat lyrics to Jerome Kern's lovely tune provide an appealing call to a positive outlook on life, even in the face of adversity. Please note the date each article was posted or last reviewed. ARCHIVED CONTENT: As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.

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