The impact of positive affect on health cognitions and behaviours: a meta-analysis of the experimental evidence

Abstract

Several reviews suggest that positive affect is associated with improved longevity, fewer physical symptoms, and biological indicators of good health. It is possible that positive affect could influence these outcomes by promoting healthful cognitions and behaviours. The present review identified conceptual pathways from positive affect to health cognitions and behaviour, and used random effects meta-analysis to quantify the impact of positive affect inductions (versus neutral affect conditions) on these outcomes. Literature searches located 54 independent tests that could be included in the review. Across all studies, the findings revealed no reliable effects on intentions (d₊ = −.12, 95% CI = −.32 to .08, k = 15) or behaviour (d₊ = .15, 95% CI = −.03 to .33, k = 23). There were four reliable effects involving specific cognitions and behaviours, but little clear evidence for generalised benefits or adverse effects of positive emotions on health-related cognitions or actions. Conclusions must be cautious given the paucity of tests available for analysis. The review offers suggestions about research designs that might profitably be deployed in future studies, and calls for additional tests of the impact of discrete positive emotions on health cognitions and behaviour.

Keywords:

• positive affect
• health behaviour
• cognition
• motivation
• positive psychology

Notes

1. Other researchers propose that positive affect induces more superficial, not deeper, processing of information (for discussions, see, e.g., Bless & Fielder, 2006; Isen, 2004).

2. A series of affective images used to influence affect (International Affective Picture System, Lang, Bradley, & Cuthbert, 1999)

3. A series of affective statements used to influence affect (Velten, 1968).

Additional information

Funding

Funding: This research was funded by Unilever. We thank researchers for sharing their data and undertaking new analyses for the purposes of the present review, and Eleanor Miles and Tracy Epton for technical advice and assistance.