Physical Health Hugely Influenced by Happiness AND Anger

Your emotions have a tremendous influence on your physical well-being. More specifically, the frequency with which you feel positive emotions, such as joy, laughter and relaxation, are critical for your ongoing physical health. AND the frequency with which you regularly experience negative emotions, such as disgust, stress, anger and irritation, seem to chip away at your physical health.

A recent study from the Kansas University has added more weight to this relatively recent line of thought connecting positive emotions with physical health. The latest experiment provides direct evidence of the deep-seated need for positive emotions around the globe

Sarah Pressman, assistant professor of psychology at Kansas stated, 'We've known for a while now that emotions play a critical role in physical health, but until recently, most of this research was conducted only in industrialized countries. So we couldn't know whether feelings like happiness or sadness matter to the health of people who have more pressing concerns - like getting enough to eat or finding shelter. But now we do.' The findings indicate the tremendous importance of positive emotions in the physical health of all individuals, particularly those in impoverished parts of the world.

Gathering a sizeable sample that consisted of more than 150,000 adults from over 140 countries, the study represents more than ninety-five percent of the world's population. Individuals involved in the study reported their recent emotions including happiness, worry, anger, anxiety, fear and sadness. They also reported their physical status, including health problems such as physical pain, exhaustion and recent sicknesses. In addition, they described the extent to which their basic needs were currently met (e.g., clothing, housing, food).

Results found that the frequency of positive emotions experienced are 'unmistakably linked to better health,' even when basic needs were accounted for.

Notably, the opposite was found to be true as well: Destructive emotions, such as anger, anxiety and sadness, were reliable predictors of reduced physical well-being.

Amazingly, the relationship between emotion and physical health was stronger than that between health and basic human needs, like food and clothing. Even for those individuals starving or suffering from a harsh environment due to lack of shelter, the presence of positive emotions increased health. In fact, the relationship was the strongest in the poorest countries involved in the study.

This essential human need for positive emotions and the importance of positive emotions for physical health is quickly getting established as medical certainty.

For a free copy of John's award-winning book, 'Guide to Self: The Beginner's Guide to Managing Emotion' visit http://www.GuideToSelf.com and register with your name and email.

MLA University of Kansas (2009, March 5). Human Emotions Hold Sway Over Physical Health Worldwide.

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