A recent study suggests that when teenagers feel loved by the people around them and feel good about themselves and their lives, their hearts get healthier benefits in the long run.
The study entitled "Adolescent Psychological Assets and Cardiometabolic Health Maintenance in Adulthood: Implications for Health Equity" revealed that better cardiovascular health is gained by adults in their 20s and 30s when they have been generally happy, optimistic and loved in their teen years as compared to those who grew up with lack of this kind of mental well-being.
Aside from a healthier heart condition, these teens are more likely to sustain a healthy weight and normal blood pressure levels, blood sugar, and cholesterol.
Further, the study stated that having these positive feelings appeared to be a lot more significant for the future health of Black teenagers.
Positive feelings are a must for a healthier heart
Researchers analyzed data from a national health study that was participated by almost 3,500 high school students in the U.S. during the 1990s and followed the participants for over two decades.
The teens were asked to answer questions that determined five psychological assets - happiness; hopefulness about the future; high self-esteem; feeling socially accepted; and feeling loved and wanted.
Sixty-nine percent expressed that they had four to five of the assets in their lives, reflecting good cardiovascular health as they reached their 30s. Other factors, such as family income, parents' educational level, and participants' body weight, were considered.
Alarmingly though, 55 percent of the teenagers expressed that they had only one of the assets or none at all.
For Black teens, psychological assets are highly critical. Only six percent had good cardiovascular health in their 20s.
"The way kids feel about themselves and their lives can affect their health behaviors. It's generally tough to exercise and eat healthfully on a regular basis. But if you feel good about yourself and the future, that's a good motivator," U.S. News reported, as explained by Farah Qureshi, the lead researcher and an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore.
How does this study differ from others
Numerous studies show how kids' and teens' well-being affects their health as they grow into adulthood.
Studies have revealed that childhood obesity increases the risk for serious health conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease when they reach adulthood. Another study also revealed that those who experienced abuse and neglect during their younger years have a higher risk of heart disease and other illnesses.
So what does this new study tell differently?
It asked a different question, experts declared. What can be the "positive psychological assets" that can protect the physical health of children and teens in the long run?
And how is this important?
Qureshi further explained that even in this day and age, there has still been no study that has pointed out the "good things" kids need to support and protect their "cardiometabolic health."
