Imagining a positive future reduces cortisol response to awakening and reactivity to acute stress.

The positive influence of optimism on health is thought to be due in part to a reduced physiological response to stress, as manifested for instance in activity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) systems. Results of previous studies support the notion that dispositional optimism can influence diurnal cortisol secretion as well as cortisol reactivity. The aim of the present study was to examine whether induced optimism can similarly affect HPA activity and thereby potentially have beneficial health effects. We assigned 66 university students to either the Best Possible Self (BPS) or an active control condition, respectively entailing two weeks of daily visualization of a positive future or time management exercises. Before and after the intervention, we assessed diurnal cortisol levels, response to awakening (CAR), and reactivity to the Trier Social Stress Task (TSST), as well as optimism, affect, negative cognitions, perceived stress, and threat appraisal. Effects of the BPS intervention were tested with repeated measures ANOVA (psychological outcomes) and multilevel regression (cortisol outcomes). The BPS intervention was associated with decreases in both the CAR and cortisol responses to acute stress. Compared to controls, BPS participants showed decreased worrying and increased positive affect post-intervention; however, they did not show the expected greater increase in optimism. Within-person decreases in worrying were associated with decreased CARs, whereas both decreased worrying and increased PA were linked to attenuated stress reactivity. Results suggest that the BPS intervention can influence HPA axis reactivity, with effects on well-being variables likely mediating the process. More research is needed to determine longer-term neuroendocrine and health effects of such interventions in at-risk as well as healthy populations.

The effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on wound healing: a preliminary study.

Psychological factors have been shown to influence the process of wound healing. This study examined the effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on the speed of wound healing. The local production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors was studied as potential underlying mechanism. Forty-nine adults were randomly allocated to a waiting-list control group (n = 26) or an 8-week MBSR group (n = 23). Pre- and post-intervention/waiting period assessment for both groups consisted of questionnaires. Standardized skin wounds were induced on the forearm using a suction blister method. Primary outcomes were skin permeability and reduction in wound size monitored once a day at day 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10 after injury. Secondary outcomes were cytokines and growth factors and were measured in wound exudates obtained at 3, 6, and 22 h after wounding. Although there was no overall condition effect on skin permeability or wound size, post hoc analyses indicated that larger increases in mindfulness were related to greater reductions in skin permeability 3 and 4 days after wound induction. In addition, MBSR was associated with lower levels of interleukin (IL)-8 and placental growth factor in the wound fluid 22 h after wound induction. These outcomes suggest that increasing mindfulness by MBSR might have beneficial effects on early stages of wound healing. Trial Registration NTR3652, http://www.trialregister.nl.

Especificidad de una intervención sobre el Mejor Self Posible para incrementar el optimismo: Comparación con una intervención de gratitud / Specificity of the Best Possible Self intervention for increasing optimism: Comparison with a gratitude intervention

The present study compared the effects of a one week best possible self intervention and a one week gratitude intervention on life satisfaction and optimism. We hypothesized that both interventions would lead to similar increases in life satisfaction, but that only the best possible self intervention would increase optimism. The results partly confirmed the hypotheses: only the best possible self intervention led to increased optimism immediately after the intervention period, which further increased one week after completion of the intervention. However, the best possible self intervention was also more effective in increasing life satisfaction than the gratitude intervention. Whereas the increase in life satisfaction in the best possible self intervention was significantly different from the control intervention, this was not the case in the gratitude condition. We conclude that the best possible self intervention is an effective exercise if one aims to increase optimism.

El presente estudio comparó los efectos en satisfacción vital y optimismo de dos intervenciones (mejor self posible y gratitud), de una semana de duración. Hipotetizamos que ambas intervenciones incrementarían la satisfacción vital pero que la intervención del mejor self possible sería mejor para incrementar el optimismo. Los resultados confirmaron las hipótesis: sólo la intervención del mejor self posible condujo a un incremento en optimismo, que incluso se incrementó una semana después de la intervención. Sin embargo, la intervención del mejor self posible también fue más efectiva que la intervención en gratitud para incrementar la satisfacción vital. Mientras que el aumento en la satisfacción vital en la intervención del mejor self posible fue significativamente mayor que en el grupo de control, no sucedió lo mismo en la condición de gratitud. Concluimos que la intervención del mejor self posible es un ejercicio útil si se pretende incrementar el optimismo.

Optimism lowers pain: evidence of the causal status and underlying mechanisms.

Previous studies have demonstrated a relation between dispositional optimism and lower pain sensitivity, but the causal status of this link remains unclear. This study sought to test the causal status by experimentally inducing a temporary optimistic state by means of writing about and visualizing a future best possible self. In addition, we explored pain expectations and (situational) pain catastrophizing as possible underlying mechanisms of the link between optimism and pain. Seventy-nine university students participated in a cold pressor task (CPT). Before the CPT, half of them received the optimism manipulation and the other half a control manipulation. Induced optimism was related to lower pain intensity ratings during the CPT compared to the control group, thereby experimentally confirming causality. This effect was not explained by pain-related expectations about the task. Situational pain catastrophizing, however, did seem to mediate the relation between optimism and pain. This study is novel in that it confirms the causal status of optimism towards pain. Additionally, the results reveal that positive interventions might provide a useful alternative in reducing pain catastrophizing as an extremely relevant target in pain treatment.

Become more optimistic by imagining a best possible self: effects of a two week intervention.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Optimism is a personality trait which has repeatedly been shown to correlate with, and predict psychological and physical well-being. The present study investigated whether optimism can be increased by imagining a best possible self (BPS). Effects were compared to a control group in which participants imagined their daily activities (DA). METHODS: In order to minimize inter-individual differences in content of imagery, participants constructed their BPS according to 3 domains, namely a personal, relational, and professional domain. All participants were instructed to practice their imagery exercise for 5 min per day over a period of two weeks. Effects on optimism and mood were measured after one session, after one week and after two weeks. RESULTS: Results indicated that BPS imagery led to significantly larger increases in optimism as compared to DA imagery, after one session and over a two week period. Effects on optimism remained after controlling for possible mediation by the change in positive mood. LIMITATIONS: In order to test the effectiveness of our BPS imagery intervention we relied exclusively on self-report measures. CONCLUSION: The present study confirmed that imagining a BPS enhances levels of optimism, independent of the mood effect.