In that previous studies have reported that higher optimism associates with a variety of positive health outcomes, researchers from the University of Michigan (Michigan, USA) investigated the potential for a correlation between optimism and incidence of stroke. Eric S. Kim and colleagues analyzed data collected on over 6,000 older Americans enrolled in the US Health and Retirement Study. The team found that for each unit increase in a standardized optimism assessment, the relative risk of stroke decreased significantly. As well, optimism appeared to blunt the impact of negative psychological factors – such as anxiety, depression, negative affect, and neuroticism – as a risk factor for stroke. Reporting that: “The effect of optimism remained significant even after fully adjusting for a comprehensive set of sociodemographic, behavioral, biological, and psychological stroke risk factors,” the researchers conclude that: “Optimism may play an important role in protecting against stroke among older adults.”
