Positive affect contributes to health and longevity. While most research has been conducted in individualistic societies where the experience and expression of positive emotions are highly valued, evidence remains scarce in collectivistic societies that de-emphasize the importance thereof. Employing 19-year longitudinal data of Japanese adults (age range 40–79; N = 2,033), we examined whether positive affect predicted mortality and morbidity. Health outcomes were all-cause and cause-specific mortality as well as the onset of morbidity (heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer). After adjusting for relevant covariates, the Cox proportional hazards models revealed that positive affect predicted none of the outcomes. Our results did not replicate the health−benefits of positive affect. We discussed potential reasons for the null results.

积极的影响有助于健康和长寿。虽然大多数研究都是在高度重视积极情绪的体验和表达的个人主义社会中进行的，但在集体主义社会中却很少有证据表明其重要性。采用日本成年人的 19 年纵向数据（年龄范围 40-79；N = 2,033），我们检查了是否积极影响预测的死亡率和发病率。健康结果是全因和特定原因死亡率以及发病率（心脏病、中风、高血压、糖尿病和癌症）。在调整相关协变量后，Cox 比例风险模型显示，积极影响无法预测任何结果。我们的结果没有复制积极影响的健康益处。我们讨论了无效结果的潜在原因。