Adler N E, Horowitz M, Garcia A, Moyer A
University of California, San Francisco 94143-0844, USA.
Psychosom Med. 1998 Jan-Feb;60(1):26-32. doi: 10.1097/00006842-199801000-00006.
Numerous studies have linked stress and negative states to adverse health outcomes. However, in addition to engendering negative states, stress may impair capacities to experience positive states. Such failure to experience positive states may represent a risk factor for poor health in and of itself. The research reported here examines a brief, easily repeated measure of positive states of mind (PSOM) including: focused attention, productivity, responsible caretaking, restful repose, sharing, sensuous nonsexual pleasure, and sensuous sexual pleasure.
The PSOM Scale and measures of psychological distress, stress, and physical symptoms were administered in four independent samples: two samples of college students and two samples of pregnant women, one undergoing a potentially stressful medical procedure (amniocentesis). The relationship between PSOM scores and several conceptually related, but distinct, psychological variables was examined, controlling for the effect of social desirability where necessary.
The range of scores on the items of the PSOM indicated that impairments of ability to have the relevant experiences did occur in the subjects who were experiencing stress. The overall PSOM Scale score consistently showed an inverse relationship with anxiety and with indicators of stress. In addition, lower scores on the PSOM Scale were associated with more somatic symptomatology.
The results provide evidence that positive states of mind are linked to negative psychological states and are responsive to stressful events. The PSOM scale provides a useful, brief measure for research in stress and health.
众多研究已将压力和消极状态与不良健康结果联系起来。然而，除了产生消极状态外，压力可能会损害体验积极状态的能力。无法体验到积极状态本身可能就代表着健康状况不佳的一个风险因素。此处报告的研究考察了一种简短且易于重复的积极心理状态（PSOM）测量方法，包括：专注注意力、生产力、尽责照料、宁静休憩、分享、感官非性愉悦以及感官性愉悦。
在四个独立样本中施测PSOM量表以及心理困扰、压力和身体症状的测量工具：两个大学生样本和两个孕妇样本，其中一个孕妇样本正在接受一项可能有压力的医疗程序（羊膜穿刺术）。考察了PSOM分数与几个概念上相关但不同的心理变量之间的关系，并在必要时控制了社会期望的影响。
PSOM各项目的分数范围表明，处于压力状态的受试者确实存在相关体验能力的损害。PSOM量表的总体得分始终显示出与焦虑以及压力指标呈负相关。此外，PSOM量表得分较低与更多的躯体症状相关。
研究结果提供了证据，表明积极心理状态与消极心理状态相关，且对压力事件有反应。PSOM量表为压力与健康研究提供了一种有用的简短测量方法。
