Happier teens make for healthier youth

WASHINGTON - A study shows that teens’ positive emotions and moods could help them grow into healthier youths.

Shaffer-Hudkins of the University of South Florida is the first to look at both positive and negative indicators of mental health and its bearing on physical health in a sample of 401 students in sixth to eighth grades.

The teenagers rated their satisfaction with life, whether they had felt excited, strong and proud (positive affect) or lonely, guilty and sad (negative affect), reports Applied Research in Quality of Life.

Overall, good physical health was strongly linked to life satisfaction, feeling excited, strong and proud, said a university release.

Those who said they felt lonely, guilty, anxious, depressed or displayed undesirable behaviours reported being less healthy physically.