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Is Optimism a Protective Factor for Cardiovascular Disease?

  • Psychological Aspects of Cardiovascular Diseases (A Steptoe and IM Kronish , Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Does optimism contribute to superior cardiovascular health? We examined prospective studies investigating the connections between optimism and cardiovascular health and examining the biological and behavioral mechanisms that may mediate such connections.

Recent Findings

Optimism, independent of sociodemographic, medical, and negative psychological factors, has been prospectively associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and lower rates of cardiac and all-cause mortality. The mechanisms by which optimism may prevent cardiovascular disease remain unclear, but one mechanism may be through health behaviors. Indeed, optimism has been linked with physical activity, healthy diet, and smoking cessation, all of which are associated with better cardiovascular health.

Summary

Additional studies are needed to: (1) understand the relationships between more dynamic measures of optimism and health outcomes, (2) delineate the mechanisms underlying the relationships between optimism and cardiovascular health, and (3) assess the potential for interventions to modify optimism.

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      Funding

      Time for this work was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute through grant R01HL113272 (to Dr. Huffman), by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute through grant K23-HL-123607 (to Dr. Celano), by the National Cancer Institute through grant K08CA251654 (to Dr. Amonoo), and by the German Heart Foundation through a research scholarship (to Dr. Sadlonova).

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      Authors and Affiliations

      1. Department of Psychosocial Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA

        Hermioni L. Amonoo

      2. Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

        Hermioni L. Amonoo

      3. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

        Hermioni L. Amonoo, Christopher M. Celano, Monika Sadlonova & Jeff C. Huffman

      4. Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Warren 1220C, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

        Christopher M. Celano, Monika Sadlonova & Jeff C. Huffman

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      1. Hermioni L. Amonoo
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      2. Christopher M. Celano
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      4. Jeff C. Huffman
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      Correspondence to Jeff C. Huffman.

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      Conflict of Interest

      Dr. Celano has received salary support from BioXcel Pharmaceuticals and honoraria for talks to Sunovion Pharmaceuticals on topics unrelated to this research.

      Dr. Huffman received a stipend as Editor-in-Chief of General Hospital Psychiatry.

      The other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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      Amonoo, H.L., Celano, C.M., Sadlonova, M. et al. Is Optimism a Protective Factor for Cardiovascular Disease?. Curr Cardiol Rep 23, 158 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-021-01590-4

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      • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-021-01590-4

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