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Association of optimism and pessimism with inflammation and hemostasis in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Association of optimism and pessimism with inflammation and hemostasis in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Brita Roy, Ana V Diez-Roux, Teresa Seeman, Nalini Ranjit, Steven Shea and Mary Cushman
Psychosomatic medicine, v 72(2), pp 134-140
Feb 2010
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181cb981b
PMID: 20100888
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/2842951View
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Abstract

Adaptation, Psychological - physiology Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Atherosclerosis - blood Atherosclerosis - epidemiology Atherosclerosis - psychology Attitude to Health Biomarkers - analysis Body Mass Index C-Reactive Protein - analysis Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology Cross-Sectional Studies Diabetes Mellitus - blood Diabetes Mellitus - diagnosis Diabetes Mellitus - psychology Ethnic Groups - statistics & numerical data Female Fibrinogen - analysis Hemostasis - physiology Humans Hypertension - blood Hypertension - ethnology Inflammation - blood Inflammation - psychology Interleukin-6 - blood Male Middle Aged Personality - classification Risk Factors Health Behavior
To investigate the association between optimism/pessimism and concentrations of seven inflammation and hemostasis markers. Optimism and pessimism are associated with cardiovascular disease mortality and progression; however, the biological mechanism remains unclear. This cross-sectional study used data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a study of 6814 persons aged 45 to 84 years with no history of clinical cardiovascular disease. The Life-Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) was used to measure dispositional optimism and pessimism. Regression analyses were used to estimate associations of optimism and pessimism with interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, homocysteine, Factor VIII, D-dimer, and plasmin-antiplasmin, before and after adjustment for sociodemographics, depression, cynicism, health behaviors, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, and diabetes. Higher scores on the LOT-R (positive disposition) were related to lower concentrations of IL-6 (p = .001), fibrinogen (p < .001), and homocysteine (p = .031). Associations were stronger for the pessimism subscale. After adjustment for demographics, the percentage differences in inflammatory markers corresponding to a 2-standard deviation increase in pessimism were 6.01% (p = .001) for IL-6, 10.31% (p = .001) for CRP, 2.47% (p < .0001) for fibrinogen, and 1.36% (p = .07) for homocysteine. Associations were attenuated but significant after adjustment for sociodemographics, depression, cynical distrust, and behaviors. Further adjustment for hypertension, BMI, and diabetes reduced associations for CRP and IL-6. Pessimism remained associated with a 1.36% (p = .02) increase in fibrinogen in the fully adjusted model. Factor VIII, D-dimer, and plasmin-antiplasmin were not associated with the LOT-R or subscales. Pessimism is related to higher levels of inflammation. Health behaviors, BMI, hypertension, and diabetes seem to play a mediating role.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Psychiatry
Psychology
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
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