Psychological Well-being and Physical Health: Associations, Mechanisms, and Future Directions

Abstract

The construct of psychological well-being is multifaceted and research in the area of physical health has included a broad array of positively toned subjective states and cognitions. For the purposes of this review, the term*psychological well-being*will be used throughout and is defined as the subjective experience of positively valenced feelings or cognitive appraisals including lower activation affects such as calm or satisfied, as well as higher activation affects such as excited or thrilled. See commentary "[Author Reply: Illuminating the Health Benefits of Psychological A paradigm shift in public health and medicine has broadened the field from a singular focus on the ill effects of negative states and psychopathology to an expanded view that examines protective psychological assets that may promote improved physical health and longevity. We summarize recent evidence of the link between psychological well-being (including positive affect, optimism, life meaning and purpose, and life satisfaction) and physical health, with particular attention to outcomes of mortality and chronic disease incidence and progression.