RT Journal
A1 Kubzansky LD, Thurston RC
T1 Emotional vitality and incident coronary heart disease: Benefits of healthy psychological functioning
JF Archives of General Psychiatry
JO Archives of General Psychiatry
YR 2007
FD December 1
VO 64
IS 12
SP 1393
OP 1401
DO 10.1001/archpsyc.64.12.1393
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.64.12.1393
AB Context 
    The potentially toxic effects of psychopathology and poorly regulated emotion on physical health have long been considered, but less work has addressed whether healthy psychological functioning may also benefit physical health. Emotional vitality—characterized by a sense of energy, positive well-being, and effective emotion regulation—has been hypothesized to reduce risk of heart disease, but no studies have examined this relationship.Objectives 
    To examine whether emotional vitality is associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Secondary aims are to consider whether effects are independent of negative emotion and how they may occur.Design 
    A prospective population-based cohort study.Setting 
    National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I and follow-up studies (a probability sample of US adults).Participants 
    Six thousand twenty-five men and women aged 25 to 74 years without CHD at baseline, followed up for a mean 15 years after the baseline interview.Main Outcome Measures 
    Measures of incident CHD were obtained from hospital records and death certificates. During the follow-up period, 1141 cases of incident CHD occurred.Results 
    At the baseline interview (1971-1975), participants completed the General Well-being Schedule from which we derived a measure of emotional vitality. Compared with individuals with low levels, those reporting high levels of emotional vitality had multivariate-adjusted relative risks of 0.81 (95% confidence interval, 0.69-0.94) for CHD. A dose-response relationship was evident (P < .001). Significant associations were also found for each individual emotional vitality component with CHD, but findings with the overall emotional vitality measure were more reliable. Further analyses suggested that one way in which emotional vitality may influence coronary health is via health behaviors. However, the effect remained significant after controlling for health behaviors and other potential confounders, including depressive symptoms or other psychological problems.Conclusion 
    Emotional vitality may protect against risk of CHD in men and women.