Obesity has been linked to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Studies that examine the associations of positive psychosocial factors with measures of adiposity are few.

Objectives

Using the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) data, we examined the associations of dispositional optimism (DO) with measures of adiposity among African Americans (AA).

Methods

We analyzed baseline data (2000-2004) for 4624 African American adults. We investigated the associations of DO with adiposity parameters (Body Mass Index-BMI, Waist Circumference-WC and Waist to Height Ratio-WHtR). DO was measured with the Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) and categorized based on tertile split. Multivariable Poisson regression analysis with robust standard errors was used to estimate the prevalence ratios (PRs; 95% confidence intervals-CI) of DO by adiposity measures, adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic status (SES), behavioral factors and depressive symptoms.

Results

After full adjustments, high (vs low) optimism was significantly associated with a 5% reduced prevalence of WHtR ≥ 0.05 (PR 0.95; 95% CI [0.91-0.99]; p = 0.006). High (vs low) DO was also protective of WC ≥ 102 cm (male), 88cm (female) after adjusting for demographics, SES and behaviors (PR 0.94; 95% CI [0.89 - 0.99]; p = 0.04). The association between high (vs low) optimism and BMI ≥30 kg/m² was not significant (PR 0.96; 95% CI [0.88 - 1.06]; p = 0.43, after full adjustments.

Conclusion

High levels of DO were inversely associated with adiposity phenotypes, except BMI. Abdominal adiposity may play a role in the relationship between optimism and adiposity phenotypes in AA.