Staying Relaxed in the Face of Daily Stress Important for Long-Term Mental Health

Stress, but especially our emotional response to it in daily life, may indeed predict our long-term mental health, according to a new study led by an UC Irvine psychologist. The researchers used data from two national, longitudinal surveys, to find that participants' negative emotional responses to daily stressors - such as arguments with a spouse or partner, conflicts at work, standing in long lines or sitting in traffic - predicted psychological distress and self-reported anxiety/mood disorders 10 years later.

The research by Susan Charles, UC Irvine professor of psychology & social behavior, and her colleagues which appears online in the journal Psychological Science, therefore suggests that maintaining emotional balance is crucial to avoiding severe mental health problems down the road.

"How we manage daily emotions matters to our overall mental health," Charles said. "We're so focused on long-term goals that we don't see the importance of regulating our emotions. Changing how you respond to stress and how you think about stressful situations is as important as maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine."

The researchers used a relatively small data sample, 711 men and women between 25 and 74, from the two long-term, longitudinal surveys Midlife Development in the United States project and the National Study of Daily Experiences.

The results by Charles and her colleagues, suggest that mental health outcomes aren't affected by just major life events; they also bear the impact of seemingly minor emotional experiences. The study suggests that the chronic nature of negative emotions in response to daily stressors can take a toll on long-term psychological well-being.

"It's important not to let everyday problems ruin your moments," Charles said. "After all, moments add up to days, and days add up to years. Unfortunately, people don't see mental health problems as such until they become so severe that they require professional attention."