Farah Qureshi1, Jackie Soo2, Ying Chen2, Brita Roy3, Donald M Lloyd-Jones4, Laura D Kubzansky5, Julia K Boehm6. 1. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: fqureshi@mail.harvard.edu. 2. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut. 4. Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. 5. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. 6. Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, California.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Optimism is associated with better cardiovascular health, yet little is known about the underlying mechanisms and whether protective relationships are consistently observed across diverse groups. This study examines optimism's association with lipid profiles over time and separately among Black and White men and women. METHODS: Data were from 3,206 middle-aged adults in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study. Optimism was measured in 2000-2001 using the Revised Life Orientation Test. Triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol measurements were obtained at 5-year intervals through 2015-2016. Linear mixed models evaluated relationships between optimism and lipids, adjusting for covariates, including prebaseline lipids. Subgroup differences were examined using interaction terms and stratification. All analyses were conducted in 2020. RESULTS: Higher optimism was associated with both lower baseline total cholesterol (β= -2.33, 95% CI= -4.31, -0.36) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (β= -1.93, 95% CI= -3.65, -0.21) and a more rapid incremental increase in both markers over time (total cholesterol: β=0.09, 95% CI=0.00, 0.18; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: β=0.09, 95% CI=0.01, 0.16). No associations were apparent with baseline triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or changes in either lipid over time. Tests for interaction only found evidence of heterogeneous associations with baseline triglyceride levels, but stratified models hinted at stronger protective associations with baseline levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol among White women. CONCLUSIONS: Optimism may help diverse individuals establish healthy total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels before midlife. Although associations were largely consistent across subgroups, stronger associations among White men and White women highlight a need to study optimism's health impact in diverse samples.
INTRODUCTION: Optimism is associated with better cardiovascular health, yet little is known about the underlying mechanisms and whether protective relationships are consistently observed across diverse groups. This study examines optimism's association with lipid profiles over time and separately among Black and White men and women. METHODS: Data were from 3,206 middle-aged adults in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study. Optimism was measured in 2000-2001 using the Revised Life Orientation Test. Triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol measurements were obtained at 5-year intervals through 2015-2016. Linear mixed models evaluated relationships between optimism and lipids, adjusting for covariates, including prebaseline lipids. Subgroup differences were examined using interaction terms and stratification. All analyses were conducted in 2020. RESULTS: Higher optimism was associated with both lower baseline total cholesterol (β= -2.33, 95% CI= -4.31, -0.36) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (β= -1.93, 95% CI= -3.65, -0.21) and a more rapid incremental increase in both markers over time (total cholesterol: β=0.09, 95% CI=0.00, 0.18; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: β=0.09, 95% CI=0.01, 0.16). No associations were apparent with baseline triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or changes in either lipid over time. Tests for interaction only found evidence of heterogeneous associations with baseline triglyceride levels, but stratified models hinted at stronger protective associations with baseline levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol among White women. CONCLUSIONS: Optimism may help diverse individuals establish healthy total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels before midlife. Although associations were largely consistent across subgroups, stronger associations among White men and White women highlight a need to study optimism's health impact in diverse samples.
Authors: Melissa J Azur; Elizabeth A Stuart; Constantine Frangakis; Philip J Leaf Journal: Int J Methods Psychiatr Res Date: 2011-03 Impact factor: 4.035
Authors: Anna Serlachius; Laura Pulkki-Råback; Marko Elovainio; Mirka Hintsanen; Vera Mikkilä; Tomi T Laitinen; Markus Jokela; Tom Rosenström; Kim Josefsson; Markus Juonala; Terho Lehtimäki; Olli Raitakari; Liisa Keltikangas-Järvinen Journal: Psychol Health Date: 2015-05-18
Authors: Julia K Boehm; Farah Qureshi; Ying Chen; Jackie Soo; Peter Umukoro; Rosalba Hernandez; Donald Lloyd-Jones; Laura D Kubzansky Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2020-10 Impact factor: 4.312