OBJECTIVES: To further explain the relationship of education to health by a prospective examination of positive psychological states as mediators. Furthermore, to examine the resources of desirable events, self-esteem, and social support as possible mediators between positive psychological states and subsequent health and vitality. METHODS: Four in-home interviews were conducted at 6-month intervals with a probability sample of 1,277 older adults (aged 55 and older); multiple regression was used to estimate mediating effects. RESULTS: Positive states mediated the education relationship to both symptoms and vitality, independent of negative states; the resource measures did not mediate the positive state-health relationship. DISCUSSION: Higher education level appears to increase the likelihood of being serene and happy, and healthy and vital, in later years; positive psychological states appeared to have both a promotion function (for vitality) and protective function (against health symptoms); self-esteem showed promise as a possible mediator of the effects of psychological states on health.
OBJECTIVES: To further explain the relationship of education to health by a prospective examination of positive psychological states as mediators. Furthermore, to examine the resources of desirable events, self-esteem, and social support as possible mediators between positive psychological states and subsequent health and vitality. METHODS: Four in-home interviews were conducted at 6-month intervals with a probability sample of 1,277 older adults (aged 55 and older); multiple regression was used to estimate mediating effects. RESULTS: Positive states mediated the education relationship to both symptoms and vitality, independent of negative states; the resource measures did not mediate the positive state-health relationship. DISCUSSION: Higher education level appears to increase the likelihood of being serene and happy, and healthy and vital, in later years; positive psychological states appeared to have both a promotion function (for vitality) and protective function (against health symptoms); self-esteem showed promise as a possible mediator of the effects of psychological states on health.
Authors: Liliana R Demenescu; Adrian Stan; Rudie Kortekaas; Nic J A van der Wee; Dick J Veltman; André Aleman Journal: Front Hum Neurosci Date: 2014-10-27 Impact factor: 3.169