You’ve probably heard it said that one’s attitude affects one’s health. If you maintain a positive attitude or mood, then you’re less likely to get sick than if you’re angry or depressed.
Well, a recent study demonstrates that there is some truth in that old adage. Over three-hundred subjects were assessed in terms of their emotions for a two- week period. They were assessed for positive emotions they might be feeling, such as vigor, well-being, and calmness, as well as for negative emotions such as depression, anxiety, and hostility. Then they were each given a squirt in the nose of the virus that causes common colds. The interesting thing is that emotional states had no effect on whether or not subjects were technically infected with the virus, which is measured by evidence of replication of the virus in the subject’s body.
However, emotional states did affect the symptoms the virus manifested. People with more positive emotional states were less likely to suffer or complain about symptoms of the cold than people with negative emotional states. In addition, the relative health practices of positive vs. negative people did not account for this result. So there really does seem to be a link between emotional state and illness.