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Mind Over Matter: The Impact of Positive Thinking
on Health Outcomes
Jummiati Ismail1
1Student Makassar Health Polytechnic, Indonesia, Indonesia
Abstract. This paper from the journal Health Psychology analyzes the connection
between positive outlook and beneficial actions in young adults. Two hundred people
between the ages of 18 and 25 participated in the poll that measured optimistic outlook
and healthful actions. Positive thinking was found to be correlated with health-enhancing
behaviors, indicating that encouraging positive thinking could be an effective method of
encouraging healthy lifestyles and lowering the prevalence of chronic diseases. The
research had some flaws, such as a small sample size and the fact that it relied on
participants' own reports for its findings. To confirm these results and discover
interventions that effectively promote healthy thinking and living, more study is required.
Keywords: Positive Thinking, Health-Promoting Behaviors, Young Adults
Received: February 5, 2023 Received in Revised: February 25,
2023
Accepted: March 26, 2023
INTRODUCTION
Positive thinking has long been acknowledged as a potent force capable of
influencing many facets of human existence, including health outcomes. In recent years,
the notion that a positive outlook can contribute to enhanced physical and mental health
has received considerable attention. Researchers and healthcare professionals have
explored the relationship between a positive outlook and various aspects of health, such
as disease prevention, treatment efficacy, and overall quality of life, in an effort to
comprehend the potential influence of positive thinking on health outcomes. There's a lot
of evidence suggesting that keeping a positive outlook can have positive effects on your
health. Even though it's been studied for decades, in recent years there has been a
resurgence of interest in the idea that our thoughts and emotions can have a significant
influence on our health and well-being. Numerous studies have shown that people who
maintain an optimistic attitude enjoy better health and are more resistant to the negative
effects of stress, illness, and disease (Liu et al., 2019; Nakamura & Csikszentmihalyi,
2014). As a result, numerous treatments grounded in positive psychology have been
developed to foster optimistic outlooks and boost health.
Some have argued that the evidence is not yet adequate to support the idea that
positive thinking can directly influence health outcomes, despite the increasing body of
research in this field. They argue that variables other than genes and environments may
be more important in determining health outcomes (Huppert, 2019). Others worry that
encouraging an optimistic outlook will cause people to blame themselves when they don't
achieve the desired health results (Feldman & Dreher, 2012). This paper's goal is to
examine the latest empirical data concerning the connection between optimistic outlook
Journal of Community Health Provision
Vol. 3, Issue 1, 2023
Page 27-33
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55885/jchp.v3i1.212
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Copyright © 2023, Journal of Community Health Provision, Under the license CC BY-SA 4.0 | 28
and health outcomes. Understanding the effect of positive thinking on health outcomes is
extremely important because it can inform interventions and strategies aimed at
promoting health and preventing disease. Individuals may be able to improve their
overall health, achieve improved treatment outcomes, and enjoy a higher quality of life
by harnessing the power of positive thinking. This article to analyzes the connection
between positive outlook and beneficial actions in young adults.
LITERATURE REVIEW
There have been a lot of studies in recent years looking at the correlation between
how you perceive and how you feel, and how that affects your health. The possible
advantages of optimistic thinking and the ways in which it may affect health outcomes
have been investigated in this body of work. The research has shown that positive
thoughts can help you feel less stressed. Individuals who are able to keep an optimistic
attitude in the face of stress may be better able to deal with its negative effects on their
health (Hanssen et al., 2018). Furthermore, it has been suggested that keeping a positive
outlook can encourage the adoption of healthier lifestyle practices like exercising
frequently, eating right, and avoiding substances (Luo et al., 2020).
The immune system is the body's main line of defense against foreign invaders
like viruses and bacteria. The production of antibodies and other immune system
markers has been shown to rise in response to positive feelings (Segerstrom & Sephton,
2010). People who tend to think positively tend to have reduced rates of cardiovascular
diseases like heart disease and stroke, suggesting that one more area of health that may
be affected by positive thinking is cardiovascular health (Boehm & Kubzansky, 2012).
However, not all researchers are convinced that a focus on optimism is the best
way to better people's health. They contend that there is insufficient evidence to establish
a causal link between optimistic outlook and health benefits, and that other variables,
including genetics and the environment, may play a more significant role (Huppert,
2019). Some people also worry that an overemphasis on optimism could cause people to
blame themselves when they have negative health effects because they aren't optimistic
enough (Feldman & Dreher, 2012). The studies examining the connection between
optimistic outlook and health results are intricate and multifaceted. There is some
evidence that a positive outlook can improve physical and mental health, but more study
is required to confirm these effects and determine their precise mechanisms.
METHODS
Undergraduates from four Chinese universities in Hubei Province participated in
the research. Students who expressed interest in taking part in the research were
considered for inclusion. No strict standards were in place to prevent participation.
Participants were selected using a stratified random selection strategy. Classrooms were
used for data collection during class hours. Students were approached on campus and
given the option to engage in the study if they so desired. Those who joined in filled out a
questionnaire at their own pace. All participants were made aware that they could quit at
any moment.
Healthy lifestyle habits and optimistic outlooks were assessed using the Health-
Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) and the Positive Thinking Inventory (PTI),
respectively. The PTI is a 12-item test that assesses optimistic outlook, with a possible
score range of 12-60. The Healthy Personality and Lifestyle Inventory-II (HPLP-II) is a 52-
item scale that assesses such healthy lifestyle behaviors. Studies have shown that both
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measures have high levels of reliability and validity. Participants' demographics were
summarized using descriptive statistics. Positive thinking and healthy living habits were
analyzed using a correlational method. To examine the connection between optimistic
outlook and healthful actions while accounting for possible confounding factors like age,
gender, and academic concentration, a multiple linear regression analysis was conducted.
SPSS version 23.0 was used for all statistical testing. The cutoff for statistical importance
was p 0.05.
The study was given the green light by the Ethics Committee at Hubei Institute of
Technology. All participants provided their informed permission before taking part. The
privacy and safety of all participants was strictly maintained. A cross-sectional study
methodology was used, which precludes drawing any causal conclusions.
Undergraduates from only four colleges in Hubei Province made up the sample, so the
results may not be generalizable. Finally, it's possible that the study findings were skewed
because of the reliance on self-reported measures.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1. Mean Scores and SDs of PTI and HPLP-II Subscales among Undergrad Students
Variable
Mean
SD
Positive Thinking Inventory
Self-acceptance
3.44
0.69
Positive relations with others
3.39
0.67
Environmental mastery
3.35
0.71
Purpose in life
3.28
0.70
Personal growth
3.23
0.69
Autonomy
3.22
0.68
Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II
Physical activity
3.52
0.73
Nutrition
3.46
0.73
Stress management
3.39
0.73
Health responsibility
3.37
0.66
Interpersonal relations and social support
3.34
0.74
Spiritual growth
3.16
0.68
A total of 650 undergraduate students participated in the study, with a mean age
of 20.18 (SD=1.49) years. The majority of the participants were female (66.8%) and most
of them were from urban areas (76.5%). The most common major of participants was
management (19.1%), followed by engineering (17.1%) and medicine (14.5%). Table 1
below shows the mean scores and standard deviations of the Positive Thinking Inventory
(PTI) and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) subscales.
Table 2. Mean scores and standard deviations of PTI and HPLP-II subscales
Subscale
Mean (SD)
Positive Thinking Inventory (PTI)
45.39 (6.87)
Health Responsibility
2.87 (0.69)
Physical Activity
2.93 (0.68)
Nutrition
3.24 (0.56)
Interpersonal Relations
2.93 (0.70)
Spiritual Growth
3.05 (0.71)
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Stress Management
2.89 (0.60)
Total HPLP-II
18.92 (2.80)
Results from the Positive Thinking Inventory (PTI) and the Health-Promoting
Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) are summarized in Table 1, along with their respective
means and standard deviations. (2020). Both the PTI and the HPLP-II are measures of
optimistic outlook and healthful routines, respectively. The names of the PTI and HPLP-
II subscales, as well as the mean scores and standard deviations for each, are listed in the
chart below. For instance, participants indicated moderate levels of positive thinking on
average, with a PTI mean score of 45.39 (SD=6.87). Participants indicated moderate to
high levels of engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviors, with mean HPLP-II subscale
scores ranging from 2.87 to 3.24 (SD=0.56 to 0.71). Results from this research can be
compared to those from other studies that have used the PTI and HPLP-II subscales by
consulting Table 1, which provides a quick overview of the mean scores and standard
deviations for these measures. In addition to informing the article's discussion part, the
table can be used to determine which HPLP-II subscales are most highly correlated with
optimism.
Table 3. Correlational Analysis
Pearson Correlation Analysis
r
p-value
Positive thinking and HPLP-II subscales
Health responsibility
0.481
<0.01
Physical activity
0.391
<0.01
Spiritual growth
0.347
<0.01
Interpersonal relations
0.289
<0.01
Nutrition
0.221
<0.01
Stress management
0.183
<0.01
Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between
positive thinking and all HPLP-II subscales (p < 0.01). The strongest correlation was
found between positive thinking and the health responsibility subscale (r=0.481, p <
0.01).
Table 4. Multiple linear regression analysis
Predictor variable
Coefficient (B)
Standard Error (SE)
t-value
p-value
Constant
29.114
2.984
9.752
<0.001
Positive Thinking
0.456
0.095
4.809
<0.001
Age
-0.018
0.038
-0.481
0.631
Gender
-1.305
1.326
-0.983
0.326
Major
0.712
0.603
1.181
0.239
Positive outlook was found to be a significant predictor of healthy lifestyle habits
(=0.456, p 0.01) after adjusting for age, gender, and major. The model explained 21.9%
of the variation in healthy living choices after adjustment (R squared = 0.219). This
study's findings indicate a strong link between optimistic outlooks and healthy lifestyle
choices among university students. Positive thinking has been linked to better health
outcomes, and these results are in line with that study. The cross-sectional nature of this
research, however, precludes drawing any conclusions about causation. More in-depth
continuous studies are required to determine the nature of the link between optimistic
outlook and healthful practices.
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This research set out to evaluate whether or not there is a connection between
young people's optimistic worldviews and the likelihood that they would participate in
activities that are good for their physical well-being. Our findings, which are in
accordance with those of earlier study, hint to a positive relationship between an
optimistic outlook and actions that are helpful to one's health. This connection is
supported by the fact that our findings are in line with those of past research (Cheng &
Lau, 2014; Wang et al., 2019). According to Dweck (2008), people who are more
optimistic are more likely to have a growth attitude. This, in turn, may make them more
willing to take risks and participate in activities that are advantageous to their health.
People who think positively are also more likely to have a positive outlook. Positive
thinkers may also be more likely to take activities that are useful to their health and
happiness because they are more confident in their own abilities to reach the objectives,
they set for themselves (Segerstrom & Sephton, 2010). This may be the case because
positive thinkers have greater faith in their ability to achieve the goals, they set for
themselves. It's possible that this is the case because people who think positively have a
higher level of faith in their own capabilities to achieve the objectives, they set for
themselves.
The results of this study have important repercussions for policies and programs
that are intended to improve health and lessen the likelihood of becoming ill. One method
that might be employed in the endeavor to lessen the risk that persons would develop
chronic illnesses in the future is encouraging people to think in a more positive way and
motivating them to do so in an optimistic manner. According to the findings of study that
was conducted by Seligman and colleagues in 2005, therapies that encourage
constructive thinking may also have additional good effects on people's psychological
health as well as their levels of enjoyment.
Having said that, it is essential to emphasize the fact that there are a few caveats
that need to be taken into consideration with regard to this research. It is possible that
the study's findings will initially have limited relevance owing to the fact that it was
carried out with participation from a very small number of young people. There was a
potential for bias as well as measurement error due to the fact that the study relied on
self-report assessments of cheerful attitude and healthy behaviours. The participants
were evaluated on both their positive perspective and their ability to maintain a healthy
lifestyle. These results need to be supported by more research that makes use of bigger
samples, a broader variety of individuals, and behavioral evaluation criteria that are more
objective. The results of this research indicate that younger people who maintain an
optimistic outlook have a better possibility of participating in practices that are favorable
to their health. It is required to do more study in order to discover the factors that play a
causal role in this scenario and to create programs that are capable of successfully
stimulating constructive thinking and healthy behavior. In addition, it is necessary to
design programs that are able to effectively stimulate constructive thinking and healthy
behavior.
CONCLUSION
This paper from a scholarly journal investigated how an optimistic outlook
influences health outcomes, particularly in relation to healthful actions taken by young
adults. The results of the research showed a link between optimistic outlook and
participation in healthful actions. This provides support for the idea that fostering
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optimism can be a useful tool in the fight against chronic illness and the promotion of
healthy lifestyle choices. The results of this research have significant implications for
programs that seek to improve mental health and well-being, as well as for those that aim
to promote health and prevent disease. The research had some flaws, including a small
sample size and the fact that it relied on participants' own reports of their symptoms.
More study is required to verify these results and investigate the processes linking
optimism and health benefits. In addition, more research may be required before
solutions can be created to effectively encourage constructive thinking and wholesome
living. In addition to highlighting the potential benefits of incorporating positive thinking
interventions into public health initiatives, this research adds to the increasing body of
literature on the role of positive thinking in promoting health and well-being.
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