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Psychological Well-Being and the Human Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity

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  • Barbara L Fredrickson
  • Karen M Grewen
  • Sara B Algoe
  • Ann M Firestine
  • Jesusa M G Arevalo
  • Jeffrey Ma
  • Steve W Cole

Abstract

Research in human social genomics has identified a conserved transcriptional response to adversity (CTRA) characterized by up-regulated expression of pro-inflammatory genes and down-regulated expression of Type I interferon- and antibody-related genes. This report seeks to identify the specific aspects of positive psychological well-being that oppose such effects and predict reduced CTRA gene expression. In a new confirmation study of 122 healthy adults that replicated the approach of a previously reported discovery study, mixed effect linear model analyses identified a significant inverse association between expression of CTRA indicator genes and a summary measure of eudaimonic well-being from the Mental Health Continuum – Short Form. Analyses of a 2- representation of eudaimonia converged in finding correlated psychological and social subdomains of eudaimonic well-being to be the primary carriers of CTRA associations. Hedonic well-being showed no consistent CTRA association independent of eudaimonic well-being, and summary measures integrating hedonic and eudaimonic well-being showed less stable CTRA associations than did focal measures of eudaimonia (psychological and social well-being). Similar results emerged from analyses of pooled discovery and confirmation samples (n = 198). Similar results also emerged from analyses of a second new generalization study of 107 healthy adults that included the more detailed Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-being and found this more robust measure of eudaimonic well-being to also associate with reduced CTRA gene expression. Five of the 6 major sub-domains of psychological well-being predicted reduced CTRA gene expression when analyzed separately, and 3 remained distinctively prognostic in mutually adjusted analyses. All associations were independent of demographic characteristics, health-related confounders, and RNA indicators of leukocyte subset distribution. These results identify specific sub-dimensions of eudaimonic well-being as promising targets for future interventions to mitigate CTRA gene expression, and provide no support for any independent favorable contribution from hedonic well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Barbara L Fredrickson & Karen M Grewen & Sara B Algoe & Ann M Firestine & Jesusa M G Arevalo & Jeffrey Ma & Steve W Cole, 2015. "Psychological Well-Being and the Human Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0121839
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121839
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Keyes, C.L.M. & Simoes, E.J., 2012. "To flourish or not: Positive mental health and all-cause mortality," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(11), pages 2164-2172.
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    1. Carol D. Ryff, 2017. "Eudaimonic well-being, inequality, and health: Recent findings and future directions," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 64(2), pages 159-178, June.
    2. Barbara L Fredrickson, 2016. "Selective Data Analysis in Brown et al.'s Continued Critical Reanalysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(8), pages 1-3, August.
    3. Ryff, Carol D., 2019. "Entrepreneurship and eudaimonic well-being: Five venues for new science," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 646-663.
    4. Snodgrass, Jeffrey G. & Lacy, Michael G. & Cole, Steven W., 2022. "Internet gaming, embodied distress, and psychosocial well-being: A syndemic-syndaimonic continuum," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    5. Wijnand A. P. Tilburg & Eric R. Igou, 2019. "Dreaming of a Brighter Future: Anticipating Happiness Instills Meaning in Life," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 541-559, February.
    6. Elliot M. Friedman & Elizabeth Teas, 2023. "Self-Rated Health and Mortality: Moderation by Purpose in Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-14, June.
    7. Tiffany C Armenta & Steve W Cole & Daniel H Geschwind & Daniel T Blumstein & Robert K Wayne, 2019. "Gene expression shifts in yellow-bellied marmots prior to natal dispersal," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 30(2), pages 267-277.
    8. Nicholas J L Brown & Douglas A MacDonald & Manoj P Samanta & Harris L Friedman & James C Coyne, 2016. "More Questions than Answers: Continued Critical Reanalysis of Fredrickson et al.’s Studies of Genomics and Well-Being," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(6), pages 1-7, June.
    9. Kengo Mihara & Hisayoshi Okamura & Yoshihisa Shoji & Kyoko Tashiro & Yukie Kinoshita & Akira Tsuda, 2020. "Personal Growth and Psychobiological Stress Responsiveness to the Trier Social Stress Test in Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-14, June.

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