PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

New study examines how health affects happiness

2012-11-13
(Press-News.org) Fairfax, Va., (November 13, 2012) — A new study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies found that the degree to which a disease disrupts daily functioning is associated with reduced happiness.

Lead author Erik Angner, associate professor of philosophy, economics and public policy at George Mason University, worked with an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Chicago and the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The full study is available at http://www.springerlink.com/content/k5231631755g86g2/?MUD=MP.

Previous research found that many serious medical conditions, including cancer, have a surprisingly small impact on happiness, while certain other conditions, such as urinary incontinence, seem to have a lasting negative effect on happiness.

In their study, Angner and his co-authors explored the difference. They developed a measure called the "freedom-from-debility score" based on four health survey questions explicitly designed to represent limitations in physical activities and in usual role activities because of health problems.

This study is the first to use a direct measure of the degree to which disease disrupts daily functioning.

The authors found that when controlling for demographic and socioeconomic factors in addition to objective and subjective health status, a one-point increase in the freedom-from-debility score (on a scale from 0 to 100) was associated with a three-percent reduction in the odds of reported unhappiness.

For example, a patient with prostate cancer, whose daily functioning is not affected by his condition, might score higher on a happiness scale than a patient with urinary incontinence, whose condition imposes dramatic limitations in daily functioning. Indeed, in an earlier study, the authors found that participants with a history of cancer reported being significantly happier than those with urinary incontinence.

The study was conducted using a sample of 383 older adults recruited from the practices of 39 primary care physicians in Alabama.

"These new results support the notion that health status is one of the most important predictors of happiness," Angner said. "A better understanding of the complex relationship between health status and subjective well-being could have important implications for the care and treatment of patients and could lead to interventions that could dramatically improve patient quality of life."

### About George Mason University George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with global distinction in a range of academic fields. Located in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., Mason provides students access to diverse cultural experiences and the most sought-after internships and employers in the country. Mason offers strong undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering and information technology, organizational psychology, health care and visual and performing arts. With Mason professors conducting groundbreaking research in areas such as climate change, public policy and the biosciences, George Mason University is a leading example of the modern, public university. George Mason University—Where Innovation Is Tradition.


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Advocacy for planned home birth not in patients' best interest

2012-11-13
Philadelphia, PA, November 13, 2012 – Advocates of planned home birth have emphasized its benefits for patient safety, patient satisfaction, cost effectiveness, and respect for women's rights. A clinical opinion paper published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology critically evaluates each of these claims in its effort to identify professionally appropriate responses of obstetricians and other concerned physicians to planned home birth. Throughout the United States and Europe, planned home birth has seen increased activity in recent years. Professional ...

Study sheds light on genetic 'clock' in embryonic cells

2012-11-13
As they develop, vertebrate embryos form vertebrae in a sequential, time-controlled way. Scientists have determined previously that this process of body segmentation is controlled by a kind of "clock," regulated by the oscillating activity of certain genes within embryonic cells. But questions remain about how precisely this timing system works. A new international cross-disciplinary collaboration between physicists and molecular genetics researchers advances scientists' understanding of this crucial biological timing system. The study, co-authored by McGill University ...

Underemployment persists since recession, with youngest workers hardest hit

2012-11-13
DURHAM, N.H. – Underemployment has remained persistently high in the aftermath of the Great Recession with workers younger than 30 especially feeling the pinch, according to new research from the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire. "While on the decline, these rates have yet to return to their prerecession levels. Moreover, as the recession and other economic forces keeps older workers in the economy, openings for full-time jobs for younger workers might remain limited in the short-term," said Justin Young, a doctoral student in sociology at UNH and a ...

Edison Pharmaceuticals announces initiation of EPI-743 Phase 2B Leigh Syndrome Clinical Trial

2012-11-13
Mountain View, California; November 13, 2012. Edison Pharmaceuticals today announced the initiation of a phase 2B study entitled, "A Phase 2B Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial of EPI-743 in Children with Leigh Syndrome." Four clinical trial sites have been selected in the United States: Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University Medical Center – Palo Alto, California; Akron Children's Hospital – Akron, Ohio; Seattle Children's Hospital – Seattle, Washington; and Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor University – Houston, Texas. The ...

A sip of resveratrol and a full p53: Ingredients for a successful cell death

2012-11-13
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil- Resveratrol is a naturally occurring dietary compound found in grapes, berries, and peanuts. This polyphenol protects plants against pathogens such as bacteria and fungi by inducing cell death in invading organisms. The compound was discovered in red wine in 1939 but by large did not attract the attention of the scientific community. More recently, pre-clinical studies have revealed the many beneficial properties of resveratrol. These include antidiabetic, cardioprotective, and chemopreventive effects. The latter has been associated to resveratrol ...

Should hyperbaric oxygen therapy be used to treat combat-related mild traumatic brain injury?

Should hyperbaric oxygen therapy be used to treat combat-related mild traumatic brain injury?
2012-11-13
New Rochelle, NY, November 13, 2012—The average incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among service members deployed in Middle East conflict zones has increased 117% in recent years, mainly due to proximity to explosive blasts. Therapeutic exposure to a high oxygen environment was hoped to minimize the concussion symptoms resulting from mild TBI, but hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) treatment may not offer significant advantages, according to an article in Journal of Neurotrauma, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free ...

Trying to save money? Ask for crisp new bills at the bank

2012-11-13
Consumers will spend more to get rid of worn bills because they evoke feelings of disgust but are more likely to hold on to crisp new currency, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. "The physical appearance of money can alter spending behavior. Consumers tend to infer that worn bills are used and contaminated, whereas crisp bills give them a sense of pride in owning bills that can be spent around others," write authors Fabrizio Di Muro (University of Winnipeg) and Theodore J. Noseworthy (University of Guelph). Does the physical appearance of ...

CU-NOAA study shows summer climate change, mostly warming

2012-11-13
Analysis of 90 years of observational data has revealed that summer climates in regions across the globe are changing -- mostly, but not always, warming --according to a new study led by a scientist from the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences headquartered at the University of Colorado Boulder. "It is the first time that we show on a local scale that there are significant changes in summer temperatures," said lead author CIRES scientist Irina Mahlstein. "This result shows us that we are experiencing a new summer climate regime in some regions." The ...

Frustrated FATshionistas: How do plus-sized consumers mobilize to demand better clothing options?

2012-11-13
Marginalized groups of consumers can mobilize as an online community to seek greater inclusion in and more choice from mainstream markets, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. "In order to gain greater inclusion in the mainstream market, fatshionistas have tried to persuade established companies to serve them better, publicized the offerings of companies that have tried meeting their needs, and looked for opportunities to interact with influential designers and retailers in order to influence them to do more to serve their needs," write authors ...

Can the addition of radiolabeled treatments improve outcomes in advanced metastatic disease?

Can the addition of radiolabeled treatments improve outcomes in advanced metastatic disease?
2012-11-13
New Rochelle, NY, November 12, 2012--Radiolabeled agents are powerful tools for targeting and killing cancer cells and may help improve outcomes and lengthen survival times of patients with advanced disease that has spread beyond the initial tumor site. Effective therapy for metastatic cancer requires a combination of treatments, and the benefits of adding radionuclide therapy are explored in three studies published in Journal of Clinical Investigation, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The articles are available free on the Journal of Clinical ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Existing drug has potential for immune paralysis

Soft brainstem implant delivers high-resolution hearing

Uncovering the structural and regulatory mechanisms underlying translation arrest

Scientists develop strategy to improve flexible tandem solar cell performance

Pushing boundaries: Detecting the anomalous Hall effect without magnetization in a new class of materials

Generative AI’s diagnostic capabilities comparable to non-specialist doctors

Some patients may experience durable disease control even after discontinuing immune checkpoint inhibitors for side effects

Native American names extend the earthquake history of northeastern North America

Lake deposits reveal directional shaking during devastating 1976 Guatemala earthquake

How wide are faults?

Key enzyme in lipid metabolism linked to immune system aging

Improved smoking cessation support needed for surgery patients across Europe

Study finds women much more likely to be aware of and have good understanding of obesity drugs

Study details role of protein that may play a key role in the development of schizophrenia

Americans don’t think bird flu is a threat, study suggests

New CDC report shows increase in autism in 2022 with notable shifts in race, ethnicity, and sex

Modulating the brain’s immune system may curb damage in Alzheimer’s

Laurie Manjikian named vice president of rehabilitation services and outpatient operations at Hebrew SeniorLife

Nonalcoholic beer yeasts evaluated for fermentation activity, flavor profiles

Millions could lose no-cost preventive services if SCOTUS upholds ruling

Research spotlight: Deer hunting season linked to rise in non-hunting firearm incidents

Rice scientists uncover quantum surprise: Matter mediates ultrastrong coupling between light particles

Integrative approach reveals promising candidates for Alzheimer’s disease risk factors or targets for therapeutic intervention

A wearable smart insole can track how you walk, run and stand

Research expands options for more sustainable soybean production

Global innovation takes center stage at Rice as undergraduate teams tackle health inequities

NIST's curved neutron beams could deliver benefits straight to industry

Finding friendship at first whiff: Scent plays role in platonic potential

Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers releases 2025 expert panel document on best practices in MS management

A cool fix for hot chips: Advanced thermal management technology for electronic devices

[Press-News.org] New study examines how health affects happiness