Psychological Factors and Mortality in the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer (JACC)

Abstract

Psychological factors may have an influence on disease processes and therefore they were investigated in theJapan Collaborative Cohort Study. Overall there were very few consistent associations with cancer death. Personswith ‘ikigai’, defined as ‘that which most makes one’s life seem worth living’, demonstrated decreased risk ofmortality from all causes, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD).There was noconsistent link with being quick to judge, although those answering no to quick judgement were at increasedrisk of all cause, IHD and CVD mortality. psychological stress was related to a slightly elevated risk of all causedeath, IHD in men and CVD in women. However, a sense of hurry was linked to a slightly reduced risk formortality from all causes and CVD. Persons who were likely to be angry had an increased risk for mortalityfrom all causes. In women not likely to be angry there were also positive links to death from cancers like breast.Joyfulness was associated with decreased mortality, especially from CVD. A feeling of being trusted was alsoprotective, again particularly for CVD.