The focus was on a psychological protective factor that has hardly been considered in cardiac medicine to date: resilience - the ability to deal constructively with stress, crises and strokes of fate. The researchers used the internationally established Brief Resilient Coping Scale, which measures how well people can deal with difficult situations.
The results show: People with low resilience had a 38% increased risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease and a 36% increased risk of dying within a mean observation period of four and a half years - even when other risk factors such as age, high blood pressure or smoking were included. The correlation was particularly clear in the case of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD), an often underestimated but serious disease of the leg arteries.
Mental strength as a protective factor
"Our data suggest this: Those who are psychologically resilient protect their heart. This protective effect is similar to that of more classic factors such as physical activity or a healthy diet," says study leader Dr Omar Hahad from the Centre for Cardiology - Cardiology I at the Mainz University Medical Center. The results could provide important implications for modern preventive medicine that focuses on the body and mind together.
This is also relevant from a social perspective: Resilience is not just an individual ability, but is also influenced by social factors such as education, social support and professional stability. People in stressful life situations are therefore at a double health risk - mentally and physically.
New approaches to prevention
The authors of the study argue that psychological protective factors should be systematically taken into account in cardiological care and prevention in the future - for example through resilience training, psychological support for chronic illness or greater consideration of psychosocial stress in GP practices.
Such measures could also benefit older people, single parents and the chronically ill in particular - groups that are often disadvantaged in many respects. Programmes such as mindfulness training, cognitive behavioural therapy or social group activities could help to strengthen mental resilience - and thus reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) is funded by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate and partners from research and industry and is one of the largest population-based studies in Europe. It is being conducted at the Mainz University Medical Centre and has been providing important impetus for personalised prevention and healthcare research in Germany for many years.
Origial publication:
Hahad O, Kerahrodi JG, Brähler E, et al. Psychological resilience, cardiovascular disease, and mortality - Insights from the German Gutenberg Health Study. J Psychosom Res. Published online March 28, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2025.112116
Scientific contact:
Dr Omar Hahad, Mainz University Medical Centre, Centre for Cardiology - Cardiology I, Omar.Hahad@unimedizin-mainz.de
