Psychological well-being and metabolic syndrome: findings from the midlife in the United States national sample.

OBJECTIVES

Psychological well-being predicts favorable cardiovascular outcomes, but less evidence addresses biological mediators underlying these effects. Therefore, associations among well-being and metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) were examined in a national sample.

METHODS

Survey of Midlife in the US participants (MIDUS; n = 1205) provided survey assessments of hedonic (positive affect, life satisfaction) and eudaimonic well-being (e.g., personal growth and purpose in life) at two waves 9 to 10 years apart. MetSyn components were measured during an overnight clinic visit at Time 2 only. Outcomes included the number of MetSyn risk factors and a binary outcome reflective of MetSyn status.

RESULTS

The unadjusted prevalence of MetSyn was 36.6%. Life satisfaction (B [standard error {SE}] = -0.12 [0.04], p = .005), positive affect (B [SE] = -0.10 [0.04], p = .009), and personal growth (B [SE] = -0.10 [0.04], p = .012) predicted fewer MetSyn components and lower risk of meeting diagnostic criteria in fully adjusted models. Results were unchanged by adjustments for depressive symptoms, and were not moderated by age, sex, race, or socioeconomic status. Life satisfaction (B [SE] = -0.11 [0.05], p = .023) and a eudaimonic well-being composite (B [SE] = -0.11 [0.05], p = .045) also predicted fewer components and lower risk of meeting diagnostic criteria in longitudinal models.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychosocial resources, including positive affect, life satisfaction, and personal growth, predicted reduced risk for MetSyn both cross sectionally and longitudinally. Further work should examine consequences of these linkages for cardiovascular outcomes in intervention contexts.