When adversity stares you in the face, give it a big smile. New research suggests that maintaining a positive outlook during distressing times can optimize not only your emotional wellbeing, but also your cardiovascular health.
In a study presented an annual convention of the American Psychological Society, researchers at the University of Michigan (UM) examined the ability of highly resilient people -- those who react flexibly and resourcefully to stimuli -- to recover quickly from stressful events. They gave nearly 60 participants only one minute to prepare a speech on a randomly assigned topic, leading them to believe beforehand that they would also have to deliver their speeches on videotape for later peer evaluation. No speeches were actually given, but the researchers monitored participants' blood pressure and other cardiovascular responses throughout the speechwriting period and for five minutes afterward.
The study's findings show that, in comparison to participants with self-reported low resilience, those who were more highly resilient not only appraised the task as less threatening than their counterparts, but also experienced faster cardiovascular recovery times. Says Michelle Tugade, a graduate student psychology instructor at UM and the study's co-author: "it's through the experience of positive emotions that these individuals are able to 'bounce back' quickly from a negative, stressful experience."
