Modern Methods of Speech Processing

Abstract

Evidence indicates that positive affect is associated with better health outcomes and may protect against disease. Additionally, happiness is inversely related to health outcomes such as ambulatory systolic blood pressure. To date, studies have focused on healthy populations and risk factors associated with disease development. In the current study, we analyzed whether happiness was associated with biologic markers in patients with RCC. Patients with newly diagnosed metastatic RCC (N=202; mean age 59.3; 77% men) completed psychosocial measures of depression (CES-D), social support (DSSI), coping style (COPE), and religiosity/spirituality (ORA, NORA). Biological markers associated with disease outcomes included hemoglobin, albumin, and alkaline phosphatase. Correlational analyses and linear regression were performed to determine the association between the biologic markers and psychosocial measures. Correlational analyses indicated a positive association between happiness (items from the CES-D) and hemoglobin (p=.000) and albumin (p=.013) levels, and a negative association with alkaline phosphatase (p=.004). Social support was positively correlated with hemoglobin (P=.029) and albumin levels (P=.021), while perceived stress was negatively correlated with hemoglobin levels (P=.002). None of the other psychosocial measures studied were associated with the biological markers. Linear regression analyses, controlling for disease risk group (low, intermediate, high-a predictor of mortality), demonstrated that happiness was the only variable that remained significantly positively associated with hemoglobin (p=.028) and negatively associated alkaline phosphatase (p=.044). The clinical significance of the link between happiness and disease markers in cancer patients warrants further research; however, it is reasonable to conclude that happiness may be an independent predictor of health measures in chronic disease.