J Health Psychol. 2016 Jun;21(6):1026-36. doi: 10.1177/1359105314544135. Epub 2014 Aug 11.

Positive psychological states and health behaviors in acute coronary syndrome patients: A qualitative study.

Huffman JC¹, DuBois CM², Mastromauro CA², Moore SV², Suarez L³, Park ER⁴.

Author information

1: Massachusetts General Hospital, USA Harvard Medical School, USA jhuffman@partners.org.
2: Massachusetts General Hospital, USA.
3: Massachusetts General Hospital, USA Harvard Medical School, USA.
4: Massachusetts General Hospital, USA Harvard Medical School, USA Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, USA.

Abstract

Positive psychological states are linked to superior cardiac outcomes, possibly mediated through increased participation in health behaviors. Trained study staff conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews in the hospital and 3 months later for 34 patients diagnosed with an acute coronary syndrome. These interviews focused on positive psychological states, cardiac health behaviors, and their connection; the interviews were transcribed and independently coded using directed content analysis. Both optimism and positive affect were associated with completion of physical activity and healthy eating in a bidirectional manner. In contrast, gratitude, while common, was infrequently linked to completion of health behaviors.