You have to stop looking at the half-empty glass. A team of researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (USA) and other health centers found that people with greater optimism are more likely to live longer and achieve “exceptional longevity” – that is, , live to age 85 or older.
The new study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , was based on 69,744 women from the Nurses’ Health Study and 1,429 men from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study. The women were between 58 and 86 years old when they completed an optimism assessment in 2004, and their mortality status was traced to 2014.
The men’s age range was 41 to 90 when they completed an optimism assessment in 1986, and their mortality status was followed up until 2016.
When the researchers compared the participants at their initial levels of optimism, they found that, on average, the most optimistic men and women had an 11-15% longer lifespan. They were also 50-70% more likely to reach the age of 85, compared to less optimistic groups.
“ While research has identified many risk factors for disease and premature death, we know relatively little about the positive psychosocial factors that can promote healthy aging. This study is highly relevant to public health because it suggests that optimism is one of those psychosocial assets that has the potential to extend human life, ”says Lewina Lee, assistant professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. and work leader. “Interestingly, optimism can be modified using relatively simple techniques or therapies.”
The research also suggested that more optimistic people might also lead healthier lifestyles, so the analysis took into account factors such as exercise levels, diet, smoking, and the amount of alcohol the volunteers drank.
The resulting effects were smaller, though still pronounced, with the most optimistic group of women having a 9% longer lifespan than the least optimistic. The fifth most optimistic of men had a lifespan 10% longer than the minimum.
These figures were almost unchanged for women when social life was considered, although for men there was no longer a clear link with optimism, possibly due to the smaller size of the male group.
Most of the study participants were white, and few were of low socioeconomic status, meaning more research is needed to see if the findings hold up in other groups. Also, income was only considered among men, and for men and women, optimism was only considered at one point in time.
How does optimism work its “magic”? Not know
Researchers say they are unclear about exactly how optimism helps people live longer. However, they pointed to another analysis that suggests that more optimistic people can regulate emotions and behavior, and recover from stressors and difficulties more effectively.
Lee said it was not yet clear why optimism is related to longevity. “In our study, healthier behaviors, fewer depressive symptoms, and more social ties only partially explained the association of optimism with exceptional longevity,” he said, adding that there are likely other mechanisms at play, such as optimistic people facing better stress.
“We hope that our findings inspire further research on interventions to enhance positive health assets that can improve the health of the aging public,” the expert concludes.
Referencia: Lewina O. Lee el al., “Optimism is associated with exceptional longevity in 2 epidemiologic cohorts of men and women,” PNAS (2019). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1900712116
