The Bright Side - Optimists Live Longer (and Reduce Risk of Death by 14 percent)
A new study shows that optimists live longer and have a 14 percent lower risk of dying than pessimists. How can you practice more optimism in your life?
Don't worry, be happy! And you'll live little longer. That's the conclusion of a new study from the University of Pittsburgh published in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association.
Researchers studied more than 97,000 women and found that glass half-fullers had a nine per cent lower risk of developing heart disease and a 14 per cent lower risk of dying from any cause after eight years of follow-up.
Bright siders tend to be in better health than dark siders. "The majority of evidence suggests that sustained, high degrees of negativity are hazardous to health," said Dr Hilary A Tindle, from the University of Pittsburgh.
Who is an optimist? People who tend to answer yes to statements like "in unclear times, I usually expect the best".
Who is a pessimist? People who answer yes to statements like "if something can go wrong for me, it will."
Optimists in the study appear to be healthier because they are:
- less likely to be depressed
- less likely to smoke
- more likely to have a higher education level
- earn more money
- are more religious
