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.
BolierLHavermanMWesterhofGJ. (2013) Positive psychology interventions: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. BMC Public Health13: 119.
2.
BrowningCSimsJKendigH. (2009) Predictors of physical activity behavior in older community-dwelling adults. Journal of Allied Health38(1): 8–17.
3.
BrymanA (2012) Social Research Methods (4th edn). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
4.
CallahanCMUnverzagtFWHuiSL. (2002) Six-item screener to identify cognitive impairment among potential subjects for clinical research. Medical Care40(9): 771–781.
5.
ChidaYSteptoeA (2008) Positive psychological well-being and mortality: A quantitative review of prospective observational studies. Psychosomatic Medicine70(7): 741–756.
6.
ChocronSEtieventJPVielJF. (2000) Preoperative quality of life as a predictive factor of 3-year survival after open heart operations. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery69(3): 722–727.
7.
ChowCKJollySRao-MelaciniP. (2010) Association of diet, exercise, and smoking modification with risk of early cardiovascular events after acute coronary syndromes. Circulation121(6): 750–758.
8.
DalyJJacksonDDavidsonPM (1999) The experience of hope for survivors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI): A qualitative research study. The Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing16(3): 38–44.
9.
De JongMJChungMLWuJR. (2011) Linkages between anxiety and outcomes in heart failure. Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care40(5): 393–404.
DeversKJ (1999) How will we know “good” qualitative research when we see it? Beginning the dialogue in health services research. Health Services Research34(5 Pt 2): 1153–1188.
12.
DiMatteoMRHaysRDSherbourneCD (1992) Adherence to cancer regimens: Implications for treating the older patient. Oncology6(2 Suppl.): 50–57.
13.
DuBoisCMBeachSRKashdanTB. (2012) Positive psychological attributes and cardiac outcomes: Associations, mechanisms, and interventions. Psychosomatics53(4): 303–318.
14.
European Heart Journal (2000) Myocardial infarction redefined—A consensus document of The Joint European Society of Cardiology/American College of Cardiology Committee for the redefinition of myocardial infarction. European Heart Journal21(18): 1502–1513.
15.
GehiAKAliSNaB. (2007) Self-reported medication adherence and cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary heart disease: The heart and soul study. Archives of Internal Medicine167(16): 1798–1803.
16.
GiltayEJGeleijnseJMZitmanFG. (2007) Lifestyle and dietary correlates of dispositional optimism in men: The Zutphen Elderly Study. Journal of Psychosomatic Research63(5): 483–490.
17.
GrechEDRamsdaleDR (2003) Acute coronary syndrome: Unstable angina and non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. British Medical Journal326(7401): 1259–1261.
18.
GuestGBunceAJohnsonL (2006) How many interviews are enough? An experiment with data saturation and variability. Field Methods18(1): 59–82.
19.
HsiehHFShannonSE (2005) Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative Health Research15(9): 1277–1288.
20.
HuffmanJCBeachSRSuarezL. (2013) Design and baseline data from the Management of Sadness and Anxiety in Cardiology (MOSAIC) randomized controlled trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials36(2): 488–501.
21.
HuffmanJCDuBoisCMHealyBC. (2014) Feasibility and utility of positive psychology exercises for suicidal inpatients. General Hospital Psychiatry36(1): 88–94.
22.
HuffmanJCMastromauroCABoehmJK. (2011) Development of a positive psychology intervention for patients with acute cardiovascular disease. Heart International6(2): e14.
23.
KelloniemiHEkELaitinenJ (2005) Optimism, dietary habits, body mass index and smoking among young Finnish adults. Appetite45(2): 169–176.
24.
KolanskyDM (2009) Acute coronary syndromes: Morbidity, mortality, and pharmacoeconomic burden. The American Journal of Managed Care15(2 Suppl.): S36–S41.
25.
KonstamVSalemDPouleurH. (1996) Baseline quality of life as a predictor of mortality and hospitalization in 5,025 patients with congestive heart failure. SOLVD Investigations. Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction Investigators. The American Journal of Cardiology78(8): 890–895.
26.
LaerumEJohnsenNSmithP. (1987) Can myocardial infarction induce positive changes in family relationships?Family Practice4(4): 302–305.
27.
LaerumEJohnsenNSmithP. (1988) Myocardial infarction may induce positive changes in life-style and in the quality of life. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care6(2): 67–71.
28.
LeedhamBMeyerowitzBEMuirheadJ. (1995) Positive expectations predict health after heart transplantation. Health Psychology14(1): 74–79.
29.
LeungYWAlterDAPriorPL. (2012) Posttraumatic growth in coronary artery disease outpatients: Relationship to degree of trauma and health service use. Journal of Psychosomatic Research72(4): 293–299.
30.
LyubomirskySKingLDienerE (2005) The benefits of frequent positive affect: Does happiness lead to success?Psychological Bulletin131(6): 803–855.
31.
MacInnesJD (2005) The illness perceptions of women following acute myocardial infarction: Implications for behaviour change and attendance at cardiac rehabilitation. Women & Health42(4): 105–121.
32.
MenzinJWygantGHauchO. (2008) One-year costs of ischemic heart disease among patients with acute coronary syndromes: Findings from a multi-employer claims database. Current Medical Research and Opinion24(2): 461–468.
33.
MeyrickJ (2006) What is good qualitative research? A first step towards a comprehensive approach to judging rigour/quality. Journal of Health Psychology11(5): 799–808.
34.
MurrayJFentonGHoneyS. (2013) A qualitative synthesis of factors influencing maintenance of lifestyle behaviour change in individuals with high cardiovascular risk. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders13: 48.
35.
NorekvalTMMoonsPHanestadBR. (2008) The other side of the coin: Perceived positive effects of illness in women following acute myocardial infarction. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing7(1): 80–87.
36.
PetersonJCCharlsonMEHoffmanZ. (2012) A randomized controlled trial of positive-affect induction to promote physical activity after percutaneous coronary intervention. Archives of Internal Medicine172(4): 329–336.
37.
PriestHRobertsPWoodsL (2002) An overview of three different approaches to the interpretation of qualitative data. Part 1: Theoretical issues. Nurse Researcher10(1): 30–42.
38.
RasmussenHNScheierMFGreenhouseJB (2009) Optimism and physical health: A meta-analytic review. Annals of Behavioral Medicine37: 239–256.
39.
RoestAMMartensEJDenolletJ. (2010) Prognostic association of anxiety post myocardial infarction with mortality and new cardiac events: A meta-analysis. Psychosomatic Medicine72(6): 563–569.
40.
RogerVLGoASLloyd-JonesDM. (2011) Heart disease and stroke statistics—2011 update: A report from the American Heart Association. Circulation123(4): e18–e209.
41.
RogersonMCMurphyBMBirdS. (2012) “I don’t have the heart”: A qualitative study of barriers to and facilitators of physical activity for people with coronary heart disease and depressive symptoms. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity9: 140.
42.
SchnohrPKristensenTSPrescottE. (2005) Stress and life dissatisfaction are inversely associated with jogging and other types of physical activity in leisure time–The Copenhagen City Heart Study. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports15(2): 107–112.
43.
SearleAHaaseAMChalderM. (2013) Participants’ experiences of facilitated physical activity for the management of depression in primary care. Journal of Health Psychology. Epub ahead of print 10September. DOI: 10.1177/1359105313493648.
44.
SheikhAI (2004) Posttraumatic growth in the context of heart disease. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings11(4): 265–273.
45.
ShentonAK (2004) Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects. Education for Information22(2): 63–75.
46.
StecaPGrecoAMonzaniD. (2013) How does illness severity influence depression, health satisfaction and life satisfaction in patients with cardiovascular disease? The mediating role of illness perception and self-efficacy beliefs. Psychology & Health28(7): 765–783.
47.
SteptoeADockraySWardleJ (2009) Positive affect and psychobiological processes relevant to health. Journal of Personality77(6): 1747–1776.
48.
SteptoeAWrightCKunz-EbrechtSR. (2006) Dispositional optimism and health behaviour in community-dwelling older people: Associations with healthy ageing. British Journal of Health Psychology11(Pt 1): 71–84.
49.
StilleyCSSereikaSMuldoonMF. (2004) Psychological and cognitive function: Predictors of adherence with cholesterol lowering treatment. Annals of Behavioral Medicine27(2): 117–124.
50.
SudAKline-RogersEMEagleKA. (2005) Adherence to medications by patients after acute coronary syndromes. Annals of Pharmacotherapy39(11): 1792–1797.
TinkerLFRosalMCYoungAF. (2007) Predictors of dietary change and maintenance in the Women’s Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial. Journal of the American Dietetic Association107(7): 1155–1166.
53.
TongASainsburyPCraigJ (2007) Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): A 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. International Journal for Quality in Health Care19(6): 349–357.
54.
WhiteJHunterMHolttumS (2007) How do women experience myocardial infarction? A qualitative exploration of illness perceptions, adjustment and coping. Psychology, Health & Medicine12(3): 278–288.
55.
WoodgateJBrawleyLRWestonZJ (2005) Maintenance cardiac rehabilitation exercise adherence: Effects of task and self-regulatory self-efficacy. Journal of Applied Social Psychology35(1): 183–222.
56.
ZiegelsteinRCFauerbachJAStevensSS. (2000) Patients with depression are less likely to follow recommendations to reduce cardiac risk during recovery from a myocardial infarction. Archives of Internal Medicine160(12): 1818–1823.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
