Various factors facilitate the development of positive health and act as stress buffers. These include diet, exercise, positive attitude, positive thinking, and social support. Positive thinking involves optimism, which is the inclination to expect favourable life outcomes and is linked to psychological and physical well-being. Optimists tend to assume adversity can be handled successfully and use problem-focused coping strategies, seeking advice and help from others. These factors help an individual maintain a healthy body, high-quality personal relationships, and resilience to stress, trauma, and change.

On the other hand, certain environmental and personal events act as stressors that challenge or threaten a person's well-being, having a negative effect. These external stressors can be environmental (such as noise and air pollution), social (like a break-up with a friend or loneliness), or psychological (such as conflict and frustration within the individual). Pessimists, who anticipate disasters, may ignore the problem or source of stress, using strategies like giving up the goal or denying that stress exists, which exacerbates the negative impact of these stressors.