Aroused versus calm positive affects as predictors of lipids.
OBJECTIVE
The authors hypothesized that high-pleasure low-arousal (HPLA) would predict a subsequent decrease of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TRI), as well as a subsequent increase of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The authors also hypothesized that high-pleasure high-arousal (HPHA) would have the opposite effects on these blood lipids, predicting a subsequent increase of LDL-C and TRI, and a decrease of HDL-C.


METHODS
Participants were 990 male and 595 female apparently healthy employees who underwent a routine periodic health examination at two points in time, Time 1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2), about 24 months apart. Data were analyzed separately for the men and women, and the authors controlled for possible confounders shown in past research to be implicated with hyperlipidemia.


METHODS
HPHA and HPLA were assessed based on the Job-Related Affective Well-Being Scale, while LDL-C, TRI, and HDL-C were assessed based on fasting blood samples.


RESULTS
For the men, support for our hypotheses was found relative to HDL-C and TRI. The authors did not find support for our hypotheses for thee women.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that for men, the two types of positive affects may have opposite physiological consequences with respect to subsequent changes in blood lipid levels.
Shirom
Arie
A
Faculty of Management, Tel Aviv University. ashirom@post.tau.ac.il
Melamed
Samuel
S
Berliner
Shlomo
S
Shapira
Itzhak
I
D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057181:Pleasure / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides