This research study assessed whether antecedent and response-focused emotion regulation had any divergent associations with likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease. Increases in antecedent-focused emotion regulation strategies (reappraisal) were associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk, and increases in response-focused emotion regulation strategies (suppression) were associated with higher cardiovascular disease risk.
Greater life satisfaction predicted fewer doctor visits - even after controlling for baseline health and possible sociodemographic and health-related confounds. Implications for reducing health care costs are discussed.
Positive psychological well-being, especially optimism, protects against the incidence, and somewhat against the progression, of cardiovascular disease through a broad array of mechanisms, according to this extensive literature review.
It seems like common sense that being depressed or anxious is not good for a person’s health. But does well-being offer protective effects on cardiovascular health?