Having more positive emotions as a teen could lead to better health and well-being as an adult

Positive affect is the perception of enjoyable emotions, including joy, happiness, excitement, and tranquility. Positive affect is associated with healthier behaviors and a reduced risk of chronic diseases, according to research on adults; however, data on adolescents are scarce.

Considering the fact that adolescence is a pivotal period for the development of healthy attitudes and conduct, it is also a critical time to implement interventions that aim to set individuals on a healthier path in life.

Researchers used information from a prospective, representative sample of around 10,000 adolescents in grades 7–12 (aged 15–18) in the United States during the mid-1990s who were followed into adulthood for this study.

At several intervals during the course of the study, participants provided updates on their personal history, physical condition, and general state of being. In adolescence, the researchers categorized participants according to the degree to which their positive affect developed over the course of one year.

Based on 41 outcomes pertaining to physical health, healthy behavior, mental and psychological well-being, and prosocial behavior, they then determined whether adolescents who experienced a greater increase in positive affect had healthier outcomes as adults.

Adolescents who experienced greater increases in positive affect achieved higher scores on multiple outcomes within each of these categories, even when demographic and other potentially biased variables were controlled for.

Positive affect was significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression, and stress. The research indicates that interventions aimed at enhancing positive affect might have long-lasting effects into adulthood. However, the authors acknowledge the drawbacks of relying on self-reported data and the potential presence of unaccounted-for confounding variables.

The authors add, "Several prominent organizations like the OECD, WHO, and UN are advocating for nations to integrate well-being indicators alongside economic indicators when sculpting policies. Emerging evidence from randomized controlled trials aimed at individuals, and case studies of successful policies aimed at entire populations, suggest positive affect can be enhanced. Our findings suggest that targeting positive affect during adolescence, a critical developmental phase for acquiring health assets and establishing healthy mindsets, is a promising point of intervention that might enhance the trajectory of health/well-being in adulthood."

Journal Reference: Eric S. Kim, Renae Wilkinson, Sakurako S. Okuzono, Ying Chen, Koichiro Shiba, Richard G. Cowden, Tyler J. VanderWeele. Positive affect during adolescence and health and well-being in adulthood: An outcome-wide longitudinal approach. PLOS Medicine, 2024; 21 (4): e1004365 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004365