The Association of Dispositional Optimism and Pessimism With Cardiovascular Disease Events in Older Adults

A Prospective Cohort Study

Bibliographic Data

ID12798110
AuthorsHeather Craig (0000-0002-3777-6713, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia), Joanne Ryan (0000-0002-7039-6325, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia), Rosanne Freak‐poli (0000-0003-4072-8699, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia), Rosanne Freak-Poli, Alice J Owens (0000-0002-4807-6069, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia), John J Mcneil (0000-0002-1049-5129, Monash University), John Mcneil (Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia), Robyn L Woods (0000-0003-1249-6149, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia), Carlene Britt (0000-0002-9429-6054, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia), Andrew M Tonkin (0000-0001-5291-0610, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia), Andrew Tonkin, Danijela Gašević (0000-0001-5976-4011, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume34
Issue6-8
Pages961-972
Publication date2022-04-11
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Aging and Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1552-6887 • E-ISSN: 0898-2643
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/08982643221083118
PMID35410519
OpenAlexW4223420425
LanguageEN
References cited55

Objective: Positive psychosocial factors may protect against cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to determine the association of optimism and pessimism with CVD events in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: 11,651 adults aged 70 years and over, participants of the ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP), were followed-up for 4.7 years (median). The association of optimism and pessimism (assessed as separate constructs by revised Life Orientation Test) and incident CVD events (composite and components) was assessed by Cox regression adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic and health factors. Results: No association was observed between optimism and pessimism with composite CVD events. Being more pessimistic was associated with a greater risk of fatal coronary heart disease, while being more optimistic was associated with a lower risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction. Conclusions: Optimism and pessimism may shape cardiovascular health of older adults; and we argue these psychosocial factors should be researched as separate constructs

Association (psychology · Cohort study · Disease · Environmental health · Longitudinal study · Optimism · Pessimism · Population · Prospective cohort study · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Socioeconomic status · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Clinical Psychology · Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation · Medicine · Optimism, Hope, and Well-being · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology · Internal Medicine

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Open DOIOpen Access