Positive experiences with people lead to better physical health outcomes (article)

“Researchers found that, on average, people with more positive experiences and fewer negative experiences reported lower stress, better coping, and lower systolic blood pressure reactivity leading to better physiological functioning in daily life. By contrast, variability -- or daily ups and downs -- in negative relationship experiences like conflict were especially predictive of outcomes like stress, coping, and overall systolic blood pressure.

Dr. Don notes that one broader implication of this study is that it is important to consider how outside stressors -- such as the COVID-19 pandemic -- can affect people's relationships, and therefore their physical health.

"Since the COVID-19 pandemic, relationships have been facing unprecedented challenges, turbulence, and change," says Dr. Don. "What this means is that the COVID pandemic may have health implications not just because of the virus itself, but also indirectly as a result of the impact it has on people's relationships. That is, because the COVID-19 pandemic has created considerable strain, turbulence, and variability in people's relationships, it may indirectly alter stress, coping, and physiology in daily life, all of which have important implications for physical well-being.”

My Takeaways:

• This article describes a study in which showed that people with more positive experiences with their close relationships experienced less stress, lower blood pressure and in general a better physiological functioning in life. More negative experiences associated with conflict were correlated with stress, poorer health outcomes and physical health detriments.

• The research plays on the well known fact that our mind (mental health) is very connected to our physical health. To take care of one aspect is to take care of the other whether it be keeping our physical selves health with exercise and diet or making sure we have adequate de stressing with our friends and family.

Full article is here!

#Relationships #PhysicalHealth #Friends

What’s your definition of a positive experience?