Looking at the "bright side" of things may actually improve your health. Two new studies examine the effects of stress and explore the idea that how women view their lives can either help or hinder their well-being. The results of the studies are reported in the November issue of the Journal of Health Psychology.

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The first study explores how optimism can reduce the chance of delivering low birth weight or pre-term babies for high-risk pregnant women. Researchers examined 129 women between the ages of 20 and 43 years old who were considered to have high-risk pregnancies due to various medical conditions. The women were asked to agree or disagree with statements such as "I always look on the bright side," or "I hardly ever expect things to go my way."

The women who were the least optimistic during pregnancy delivered lower birth weight infants. A woman's outlook on her life and the health behaviours she practiced during pregnancy were the factors that influenced her birth outcomes.

More optimistic women had better birth outcomes in part because they exercised more frequently, which improved a baby's greater gestational age at birth. It is now thought that these factors may be as important as other medical risk factors that have traditionally received more attention. Women with more positive states of mind also coped with stress better during their pregnancies.

The second study focused on what women thought of themselves and their place in life. Approximately 160 women, ages 30 to 46, were questioned about their standing in society and how much control they perceived they had over their lives. Researchers found that women who placed themselves higher on the social ladder reported better physical health and less abdominal fat, a key indicator for stress adaptation. Fat deposit, in turn, is linked to various medical conditions known to be detrimental to a woman's health.

These studies illustrate that expecting the best out of life may have more benefits than just a piece of good advice.

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