Broader Roots of Illness Personality and Adult Health: Study Finds Focused, Happier Kids Grow Up to Be Healthier Adults
Findings reported in the May 2009 issue of Health Psychology, of research conducted at Harvard School of Public Heath, found that happier children have a greater chance at good health in adulthood, especially girls.
“Certain characteristics already evident early in life are likely to spark positive or negative emotions, and also influence biological and behavioral responses to stress,” said lead author Laura D. Kubzansky, PhD, of the Harvard School of Public Health. “Some traits may contribute to developing healthier behaviors and better social relationships, and ultimately more resilience in mid-life.”
“Supporting this idea, we found that children who were able to stay focused on a task and react less negatively to situations at age 7 reported better general health and fewer illnesses 30 years later.”
The researchers followed 569 children from the National Collaborative Perinatal Project from age 7 to their mid-30s to see if certain personality traits influenced later health. The trained observers scored the 7-year-olds on 15 different behaviors that were assigned to three unique personality attributes: attention (the ability to stay focused on a task and persist in solving a problem), distress-proneness (the tendency to react negatively to situations), and behavior inhibition (the tendency toward shyness, acting withdrawn and having difficulty communicating).
To determine adult health, the participants rated their health and reported whether they had any of the following illnesses: heart disease, diabetes, cancer, asthma, arthritis, bleeding ulcer, stroke, tuberculosis or hepatitis.
For all the participants, superior attention spans and having a more positive outlook in youth affected health the most. These effects were greater for women, the researchers found. Women may be more sensitive to interactions among emotion, behavior and biology and, therefore, be more predisposed to certain health risks, such as heart disease, although additional research is needed to understand this more completely.
The authors found no differences in these effects across gender, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity. They also controlled for childhood health. Of the sample, 76 percent reported good or excellent health and 18 percent reported illnesses.
“This longitudinal study provides more evidence that behavior and emotions generally linked to certain temperaments play a crucial role in long-term health,” Kubzansky said. ”Fortunately, early childhood characteristics can be shaped and guided by social, family and peer interactions. Interventions can focus on altering certain ways of responding and behaviors that frequently accompany particular traits to prevent certain diseases.”
Research on optimists has been conducted for almost three decades, beginning with Dr. Martin Seligman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, who is now recognized as the “father” of positive psychology. Adults possessing an optimistic outlook are known to have a positive association between health and minimizing disease occurrence. This study now expands the realm of optimism into childhood.
References:
www.apa.org/releases/teach-children.html
http://www.apa.org/journals/releases/hea283364.pdf)
Article: “Early Manifestations of Personality and Adult Health: A Life Course Perspective,” Laura D. Kubzansky, PhD, Harvard School of Public Health; Laurie T. Martin, PhD, Rand Corporation; Stephen L. Buka, PhD, Brown University; Health Psychology, Vol. 13, No. 1.
Disclaimer
The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. It has not been evaluated by the FDA. The information is not intended to prevent, treat, diagnose or cure any illness or disease. All material provided on www.howtogetwellfaster.com is only for the education of the reader. You should always consult with your physician or other licensed health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition regarding your health and/or medical condition, and before undertaking any changes in your exercise, eating habits, diet, physical therapy or other health program. This website does not recommend self-management of one’s health care. Images, text and logic are copyright protected. All rights are explicitly reserved without prejudice, and no part of this website may be reproduced except by written consent. Copyright. All rights remain in force. Removing this notice forfeits all rights to recourse.