LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A new study spearheaded by the University of Louisville found a connection between psychological well-being and risk factors for heart disease. UofL researchers concluded that strong overall mental health corresponds to lower cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Researchers in UofL’s Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute surveyed over 700 people on a broad spectrum of psychological well-being factors while testing the participants’ cardiovascular disease risk factors. Those included cholesterol levels, blood pressure, triglyceride levels and arterial stiffness, which is associated with the progression of heart disease.

They found that participants who scored higher on the well-being survey also had lower levels of cardiovascular disease risk factors.

One of the strongest findings in the study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, was that well-being moderated the association between age and heart health. 

While study participants with the lowest well-being scores were more likely to have increased arterial stiffness with age, researchers found no association between age and arterial stiffness for those with high levels of well-being.

Previous studies have showed a correlation between optimism and happiness and lower risk of cardiovascular health events. The survey for this study took a broader approach to assess psychological well-being, said Alison McLeish, associate professor of clinical psychology at UofL and first author of this study.

“In addition to happiness and optimism, overall well-being includes something we call flourishing. It’s when you're doing things in your work or in your personal life that use your personal strengths and in which you're striving to reach a goal,” McLeish said. “It might not always bring you happiness in the moment, but there's an outcome that is exciting and brings you joy and a sense of accomplishment.”

The study’s authors suggested that health care providers may want to incorporate psychological well-being evaluation when assessing cardiovascular risk. Rachel Keith, UofL associate professor of medicine and co-author who coordinated cardiovascular health assessments for the study, said having an additional option to reduce heart disease that does not involve medication is promising.

“Given that cardiovascular disease is so prevalent in our society, incorporating new and novel approaches that address risk, such as assessing and educating on ways to improve psychological well-being, may provide exciting opportunities to increase health, especially in an aging population,” Keith said.

Individuals can take steps on their own to maximize psychological well-being, McLeish said. Practicing mindfulness activities is one way—that could mean seated meditation or intentionally being present in the moment while doing menial tasks such as walking, washing the dishes or eating.

McLeish said that while more research is needed to determine the extent to which improving well-being will improve cardiovascular disease risk, UofL's study supports the idea that improving mental health can have a positive impact on physical health.

“The absence of disease doesn't necessarily indicate health or well-being. It just gets you to neutral,” McLeish said. “A lot of times, both clinical psychology as well as medicine are focused on the absence of disease. We are trying to say let's go a little bit further than that.”