Associations Between Positive and Negative Affect and 12-Month Physical Disorders in a National Sample

Abstract

Associations between positive and negative affect and a range of 12-month physical disorders were investigated in the Midlife Development in the United States Survey, a nationally representative sample of 3,032 adults ages 25-74. These associations were examined, controlling for relevant sociodemographic and psychiatric covariates. High positive affect was associated with decreased risk of physical disorders, whereas high negative affect was associated with increased risk. However, associations between positive affect and physical disorders were partially attenuated following adjustment for concurrent negative affect. Additionally, high affect balance was associated with decreased risk of physical disorders before and after adjustments. These findings underscore the relevance of affective disposition in health status, suggesting that both positive and negative affect may serve as viable health risk parameters.

Psychological Maltreatment and Loneliness in Adolescents: Social Ostracism and Affective Experiences

“…Positive affectivity mediated the relationship of both psychological maltreatment and social ostracism on loneliness; however, psychological maltreatment did not directly predict adolescent negative affectivity, and negative affectivity mediated the effect of psychological maltreatment on loneliness through social ostracism. Affective experiences are a key component of adolescents’ interactions with other people (LaNoue et al, 2013), and positive affectivity is related to better psychical and psychological health, whereas negative experiences are associated with greater challenges in individual’s psychosocial adjustment and functioning (Kansky & Diener, 2017; Moore & Diener, 2019; Pressman & Cohen, 2005; Simons et al, 2005; Weiser, 2012; Zautra et al, 2005). Psychosocial maltreatment adolescents likely isolate themselves from relationships with other people, providing fewer emotional interactions (Young & Widom, 2014), and experiences more negative and less positive affective experiences compared with those who are non-maltreated (Arslan, 2018a; Jennissen et al, 2016; Smith et al, 2014).…”

“…Affective experiences– positive and negative affectivity– here refer to the propensity to experience negative and positive feelings or emotions, such as excited, strong, nervous, active, and guilty. Positive emotions are associated with better psychical and psychological health outcomes, whereas negative experiences are related to greater challenges in individuals’ psychosocial development and adjustment (Kansky & Diener, 2017; Moore & Diener, 2019; Pressman & Cohen, 2005; Simons et al, 2005; Weiser, 2012; Zautra et al, 2005). Several studies have indicated that psychologically maltreated individuals report greater negative experiences and fewer positive feelings (Arslan, 2018a; Jennissen et al, 2016; Smith et al, 2014), and they are more likely to isolate themselves from relationships with other people, providing fewer emotional interactions (Young & Widom, 2014).…”

Positive Affect Is Associated With Fewer Sleep Problems in Older Caregivers but not Noncaregivers

“…PA appears to have a protective effect on health, including reduced risk of stroke, functional disability, and mortality in older populations (Ostir, Markides, Peek, & Goodwin, 2001;Pressman & Cohen, 2005). High levels of PA are especially protective; compared with persons with low PA, those with high PA are less likely to develop frailty (Park-Lee, Fredman, Hochberg, & Faulkner, 2009), inflammation (Friedman & Ryff, 2012), and other physical disorders (Weiser, 2012), are more likely to recover from acute medical events (Fredman, Hawkes, Black, Bertrand, & Magaziner, 2006;Ostir et al, 2002), and have lower mortality rates (Blazer & Hybels, 2004;Steptoe et al, 2008). These health benefits might be due, in part, to a lower prevalence of sleep problems among those with high PA because better sleep is associated with better health outcomes (Martin et al, 2011;Spira et al, 2010).…”

Socioeconomic determinants of long sickness absence affected by work, family, and personal health-related characteristics: A longitudinal study of the Japanese civil servants

“… 10 For personal health‐related characteristics, employees who had sleep problems were more likely to take sickness absence than those without sleep problems. 9 Individuals with high negative affect were at an increased risk of physical illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, 11 which leads to sickness absence.…”