The relationship between positive psychological characteristics and longer telomeres.
OBJECTIVE
Longer telomeres are associated with better health and longevity. This research investigated the relationship between positive psychological dispositional traits and telomere length. Positive traits examined were typical high positive affect, typical low negative affect, life satisfaction, trait mindfulness, trait emotional intelligence, general self-efficacy and optimism.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty women and men, with a mean age of 40.92, completed measures of positive characteristics and provided samples for telomere length analysis.


RESULTS
Together the positive dispositional characteristics explained significant variance in telomere length, R = .40. Among the individual characteristics, greater optimism and higher emotional intelligence were associated with longer telomeres after adjustment for age and gender and the association between optimism and telomere length remained significant after adjusting for age and gender as well as the other positive characteristics, with a partial correlation r of .30.


CONCLUSIONS
These results in conjunction with previous research findings provide a platform for further exploration of biological pathways connecting positive characteristics such as optimism to telomere length and investigation of the impact of increasing a characteristic such as optimism on telomere functioning.
a Psychology , University of New England , Armidale , Australia.
Nicola S
NS
Schutte
b Centre for Bioactive Discovery in Health and Ageing, School of Science and Technology , University of New England , Armidale , Australia.
Suresh K A
SK
Palanisamy
b Centre for Bioactive Discovery in Health and Ageing, School of Science and Technology , University of New England , Armidale , Australia.
James R
JR
McFarlane
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*
emotional intelligence; optimism; positive characteristics; positive psychology; telomeres