The Role of Positive Emotion in Harmful Health Behavior

This research article investigates the relationship between positive emotions, specifically gratitude, and appetitive risk behaviors such as cigarette smoking. It challenges previous meta-analytic conclusions that positive emotions do not have protective effects against such behaviors. The authors present evidence from a series of studies involving large, diverse samples, including nationally representative data from the United States and an international sample from 87 countries. The findings indicate that gratitude is inversely associated with the likelihood of smoking and can causally reduce cigarette cravings and increase smoking cessation behaviors. The article emphasizes the implications of these findings for public health campaigns, noting that current antismoking messages often evoke sadness and compassion rather than gratitude. By highlighting the potential of gratitude in public health interventions, the research opens new avenues for designing effective strategies to reduce smoking rates and improve public health outcomes.