Positive Health

Question 1

WHO Definition:

Answer 1

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Mental health is defined as a state of wellbeing in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.

Question 2

Optimal Wellbeing

Answer 2

State of distress, - facets out of balance result of perceived stressors.
– biochemical, structural, electromagnetic, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
– 1st three stressors impact physical facet.
– last three stressors impact emotional, mental, & spiritual facets.

Question 3

Illness - Wellness Continuum

Answer 3

The Illness-Wellness Continuum was first proposed by Travis in 1972.
Suggests wellbeing includes mental & emotional health, as well as the presence or absence of illness.

Question 4

How do we measure Positive Health

Answer 4

• Strong positive correlation between health & GDP
• Countries with better health status tend to have higher
incomes than countries with worse health status, a
relationship known as the “Preston curve” (Preston, 1975)

Question 5

Cognitive Behavioural (CBT) Model:

Answer 5

• CBT is based on the idea that how we think (cognition), how
we feel (emotion) and how we act (behaviour) all interact.
• ABC Model
– Activating event
– Belief
– Consequence

Question 6

End states: the - and + (Part 1)

Answer 6

• The absence of disease is often taken to be
equivalent to health.
• However:
–When disorders or illness ends, health or mental
health is not always evident.

Question 7

End states: the - and + (Part 2)

Answer 7

• Correlation between happiness & depression
= -0.35 (rather than -1).
–If one variable increases, the other variable decreases but not to the same magnitude.
• Thus mental disorders impede mental health,
but
• Do not preclude mental health aspects like positive
emotions, engagement, etc.
• That is we can experience positive emotions while
depressed

Question 8

Positive Health: Part 1

Answer 8

• Positive Health is an interdisciplinary effort from
cardiology, psychiatry, psychology, epidemiology,
exercise science, & public health to examine –
–what it means to be healthy above-and-beyond the absence of symptoms & diseases.
• The field of positive health overlaps with other
fields like disease prevention, health promotion, & wellness but has its own signature provided by its explicit focus on health assets.

Question 9

Positive Heath: Part 2

Answer 9

• Positive health is the scientific study of health assets:
–factors that produce longer life, lower morbidity, lower
health care expenditure, better prognosis when illness
strikes, and/or higher quality of physical health –
–over and above the usual suspect risk factors like
hypertension, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Question 10

Positive Health: 3 classes of assets

Answer 10

Positive Health focuses on promoting people’s
positive health assets
• strengths that can contribute to a healthier, longer
life.
• These assets might include
1. biological factors such as high heart rate
variability.
2. subjective factors such as optimism.
3. functional factors such as a stable marriage.
• Positive health = excellent status on all 3 assets

Question 11

Positive Health: Biological

Answer 11

Biological assets (Physiology) include things like:
• high heart rate variability.
• high HDL/LDL ratio (High density vs low density lipoprotein: good vs bad cholesterol).
• high VO2 max (maximal oxygen uptake in one minute).
• greater telomere length (affect how our cells age).
• low BMI (Body mass index)
• high levels of neuropeptide Y (reduces anxiety & stress, reduces pain perception etc.)
• low levels of fibrinogen (helps in the formation of blood clots).

Question 12

Positive Health: Functional

Answer 12

• Functional assets (how well do you function)
include things like:
–notable sensory acuity
• (e.g. seeing, hearing, feeling (physically and
emotionally), smelling and tasting).
–exceptional central nervous system function
• (e.g., balance, coordination, cognition, and memory).
–social integration
• (A dynamic and structured process in which all
members participate in dialogue to achieve and
maintain peaceful social relations).

Question 13

Positive Health: Subjective

Answer 13

• Subjective (psychological/feelings) assets include 
things like:
–zest.
–hope.
–internal locus of control.
–life satisfaction.
–happiness.
–positive emotions.
–curiosity.
–optimism.

Question 14

Positive Health: Benefits

Answer 14

• Increased longevity.
• Decreased health costs.
• Better mental health (especially in aging).
• Better prognosis when ill.
• Higher achievement.

Question 15

Predicting good health

Answer 15

Factors such as life satisfaction, happiness,
positive emotions, optimism, self-regulation,
meaning and purpose, engagement, and social
support predict good health.

–high optimism = low cardiovascular dieses.
–optimism and positive emotion linked to better
recovery after cardiac events.

Question 16

Why care?

Answer 16

• If we can identify potential health assets we
can see if they may reveal
–a variety of potent, low-cost approaches to
enhance wellbeing (good in itself)
–and help protect against physical and mental
illness.
• If health assets can be scientifically linked to
positive health outcomes,
–we can design interventions that can help build &
sustain these assets to help people increase their
chances of living a healthier, longer, happier life.