Don’t Worry, Be Happy: Health Benefits of Happiness

Studies have confirmed that state of mind influences physical health and boosts the body’s immune system. Evidence from current research suggests that mental states such as stress or loneliness can have a negative influence on health, while happiness fosters healing and continued good health. Living a genuinely good quality of life with purpose and fulfillment can even prevent illness.

Although difficult to explain exactly how mood influences the complex physiology of the nervous and immune systems, scientists in the field of psychoneuroimmunology are looking to find out exactly what the health benefits of being in a good mood truly are.

In 1964 magazine editor Norman Cousins was diagnosed with a life-threatening autoimmune disease known as ankylosing spondylitis. He was given a 1 in 500 chance of recovery. Cousins created his own program of happiness therapy, which included regular doses of Marx Brothers films. After a dramatic recovery, Cousins founded the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and dedicated it to investigating how psychological factors can keep people in good health.

Steve Cole, a professor at the Cousins Center, is currently at the forefront of this research. Along with colleagues, Cole has published several studies that demonstrate how negative mental states, such as social isolation, loneliness, and stress, impact the immune response by affecting the body's ability to fight disease. Cole's theory states that the way people see the world can affect their risk for developing chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease and enable the progression of illnesses like HIV and cancer. Cole has also found evidence that positive emotions can override the biological effects of adversity.

Scientific studies have come far over the past five decades and many more researchers are embarking on the journey to discover the correlation between health and mood. Although some skeptics remain, many researchers accept the connection between happiness and health. With an uplifted heart, a regular prescription of laughter, and a positive outlook on life, people are much more likely to enjoy the benefits of good health. Many scientists agree that improving the quality of life by living with purpose and embracing life with an optimistic attitude brings with it invaluable and prolonged health benefits.