The Role of Positive Psychology in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Prevention of Lifestyle Diseases

Positive psychology is a way of thinking positive in life. Three types of prevention are defined in the literature: primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary prevention methods works as a proactive approach which seeks to eliminate problems before they develop, secondary prevention methods stands for the early identification of problems and intervention before problems become more severe, and tertiary most often refers to treatment and rehabilitation after the full occurrence of the disorder. Daily exercising and lively social support consistently reduces psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, during times of stress, and it promotes psychological adjustment to chronically stressful conditions, including coronary artery disease, diabetes, HIV infection, and cancer. The present paper reviews how positive psychology can be effective in primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of lifestyle diseases.