Greater ability to express positive emotion is associated with lower projected cardiovascular disease risk

Positive emotion is associated with lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, yet some mechanisms remain unclear. One potential pathway is via emotional competencies/skills. The present study tests whether the ability to facially express positive emotion is associated with CVD risk scores, while cont...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of behavioral medicine Vol. 40; no. 6; pp. 855 - 863
Main Authors Tuck, Natalie L., Adams, Kathryn S., Pressman, Sarah D., Consedine, Nathan S.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 01.12.2017
Springer
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Adult
Blood
Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control
Demography
Emotions
Evaluation
Facial expression
Family Medicine
Female
General Practice
Happiness
Health aspects
Health Behavior
Health Psychology
Health risk assessment
Health Status
Health status indicators
Humans
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Middle Aged
Moderation
Positive emotions
Risk behavior
Risk Factors
Self Report
Cardiovascular disease
Emotion
Health
Emotion regulation
Expressive skill
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Summary:Positive emotion is associated with lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, yet some mechanisms remain unclear. One potential pathway is via emotional competencies/skills. The present study tests whether the ability to facially express positive emotion is associated with CVD risk scores, while controlling for potential confounds and testing for sex moderation. Eighty-two men and women underwent blood draws before completing self-report assessments and a performance test of expressive skill. Positive expressions were scored for degree of ‘happiness’ using expression coding software. CVD risk scores were calculated using established algorithms based on biological, demographic, and behavioral risk factors. Linear regressions revealed a main effect for skill, with skill in expressing positive emotion associated with lower CVD risk scores. Analyses also revealed a sex-by-skill interaction whereby links between expressive skill and CVD risk scores were stronger among men. Objective tests of expressive skill have methodological advantages, appear to have links to physical health, and offer a novel avenue for research and intervention.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
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ISSN:0160-7715
1573-3521
DOI:10.1007/s10865-017-9852-0