While the negative effects of stress, anxiety, and depression on health are well known, the transcript highlights a powerful — and often overlooked — truth:
They are not simply the absence of negative emotions.
What the Research Shows
People with positive affect have stronger immunity, including better resistance to infections like the common cold.
Positive emotional traits predict longevity, including in a remarkable study of 678 nuns whose early-life writings predicted their lifespan six decades later.
Positive emotions reduce pain perception, improve health behaviors, and make lifestyle changes more sustainable.
Why Positive Emotions Improve Health
Barbara Fredrickson’s research suggests that positive emotions create an upward spiral:
