2097 - EFFECTS OF COMBINED POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION ON CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS

Session: D07S003 - Psychological Well-Being in Aging
AUTHORS:
Li Juan (Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences ~ Beijing ~ China) , Liu Xiaomei (Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences ~ Beijing ~ China) , Zhai Boyu (Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences ~ Beijing ~ China)
Abstract text:
Combined positive psychological and lifestyle intervention (PPLI) improves cardiovascular health (CVH) in older adults, yet direct physiological evidence is lacking. We conducted a 6-month three-arm RCT with 253 community-dwelling seniors at CVH risk. Participants were randomized to weekly PPLI (24×1 h), lifestyle-only (8×1 h), or passive control. PPLI significantly reduced total cholesterol (p = 0.005, d = -0.31), LDL (p < 0.001, d = -0.45) and non-HDL (p = 0.002, d = -0.33), and increased subjective health (p < 0.001, d = 0.42); control groups showed no change. PPLI also elevated meaning-in-life (p < 0.001, d = 0.45), cut negative affect (p = 0.025), and improved diet (d = 0.46) and physical activity (d = 0.44). Structural-equation modelling revealed that activity gains mediated subjective-health improvement. Integrating positive psychology into lifestyle programs is feasible and efficacious for CVH in older adults.