April 2004 PMID 12883117

Emotional style and susceptibility to the common cold.

Sheldon Cohen, William J Doyle, Ronald B Turner, Cuneyt M Alper, David P Skoner

Full text PDF Download social card

Mentions

Peak: 1 in May 2022

across 5 sources since May 2022

Extended reach

2,690

potential audience

Total likes

Video views

630

Mentions per month

May 2022 – Nov 2025

Where it's discussed

News34 articles
Blogs11 articles
X / Twitter4 posts
Facebook4 posts
YouTube3 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions emphasize the positive relationship between happiness and immune health, using phrases like 'happiness can be a driver of wellbeing' and sharing examples such as the study's finding that less happy people are nearly three times more likely to catch a cold. The tone is optimistic and encouraging, aiming to inform and motivate positive emotional health practices.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most posts acknowledge the findings, especially highlighting the link between positive emotions and lower cold susceptibility, demonstrating general agreement.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high interest by sharing relevant information, encouraging happiness, and referencing the study’s implications for wellbeing.

EngagementModerate engagement

Discussions include encouragements to take action and provide additional resources, indicating moderate engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

Posts suggest that understanding the connection between emotions and immunity could influence personal behavior and wellbeing practices, implying a moderate impact.

Abstract in brief

The study found that people who generally experience positive emotions like happiness and relaxation are less likely to catch a common cold after being exposed to a virus, whereas negative emotions did not significantly affect cold risk.
The relationship between positive emotional style and reduced cold risk remained even after controlling for factors like age, sex, health practices, and season.
While positive emotions were linked to fewer reported symptoms and better immune responses, these effects couldn’t be explained simply by differences in health behaviors or hormone levels.]

Read the full abstract