Do Pessimists Live Longer?

Does optimism help our health as we get older? The answer to this question is crucial because, if optimism promotes healthier aging, initiatives could be created to encourage positive thinking in both the young and the old.

An unfavorable picture of the connection between optimism and longevity has been painted by earlier research. For example, according to the 2011 book The Longevity Factor (written by psychologists Howard S. Friedman and Leslie R. Martin), happiness and optimism are not likely to increase longevity. They discovered that "cheerful, optimistic children were less likely to live to old age than their serious, non-optimistic counterparts" by following the life histories of kids whose parents and teachers described them as joyful and optimistic. They assert that living carefree may encourage riskier habits like drinking alcohol, smoking, or a general lack of interest in leading a healthy lifestyle. Their research, however, suggests that conscientiousness is the key personality quality for a long life.

The impact of optimism on relationships, memory, and longevity:

Recent studies, however, paint a more precise and upbeat picture of the connection between optimism, longevity, and health. Here are the most encouraging findings from recent research on the impact of optimism on relationships, memory, and longevity. Following a description of the study, we will discuss the cause of the discrepancy between earlier and more recent studies. Next, you'll learn that optimism has positive effects on your health:

1. Optimism and longevity:

Researchers found that "people who are more optimistic live longer, perhaps up to age 85 or older" in a survey that followed 69,744 women and 1,429 men for 10 to 30 years. Even after depression, healthy habits and chronic illnesses were taken into account; this result persisted.

How does optimism impact life expectancy? The authors of the study claim that since optimistic people are more likely to have goals and have faith in their ability to achieve them, optimism "may promote health-promoting habits and strengthen resistance to unhealthy habits by increasing one's interest in one's goals, solving problems more effectively, and adjusting goals when they become unattainable."

These results are in line with earlier research that demonstrated optimism lowers the risk of early death in midlife and later in life.

2. Optimism and memory:

Memory loss is less common in people who have a positive outlook on life. This judgment was made in a study published in the Journal of Psychological Science in 2020. According to two of the study's authors, people who have a "positive affect," or who feel happy and excited, are less likely to experience memory loss as they age. "Our findings showed that memory declines with age, but individuals with higher levels of positive affect had severe memory decline over the course of about a decade," they wrote.

3. Optimism and partner health:

Being optimistic is good for both a person's health and that of their partner. Optimism was found to lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and cognitive decline in the other partner in a study that followed 4,500 heterosexual partners for eight years.

An optimist is likely to inspire their partner to adopt healthy habits like regular exercise and healthy eating. These findings are in line with studies that demonstrate dementia is preventable by engaging in a number of healthy behaviors.

There are two types of optimism:

How might current optimism research diverge from earlier work, particularly in the area of longevity? The solution might be found in various interpretations of optimism.

However, in the 2020 Longevity Research, optimism is defined as "a general expectation that good things will happen, or a belief that the future will be favorable because we can control important outcomes." Optimism is characterized as having an "indifferent attitude" toward life in the research reported in the book The Longevity Project. These two definitions are remarkably dissimilar, and the second implies that individuals can plan ahead and influence key elements of their future. According to this definition, responsibility and purpose are closely related to optimism. The goal is a significant factor in the happiness of the elderly as they age, according to numerous studies.

In addition, as mentioned in Silver Sparks: Thoughts on Growing Older, Wiser, and Happier, it lowers the risk of dying too young, encourages virtues and friendships, and might lessen feelings of loneliness.

What can you do in this regard?

While there is a genetic component to optimism, the idea that genes are the only cause of optimism is untrue, restricting, and researcher Lewina Lee claims that "optimism may be modifiable using relatively simple techniques or treatments" with reference to the study linking optimism to a longer life.

Numerous studies back up her contention. It suggests that wellness can be acquired through intentional practice. In other words, it is possible to practice experiencing joy, optimism, and other positive emotions.

Try these four easy activities to increase your optimism and help you see a better future for yourself:

• Establish one or more reasonable objectives that reflect your values. Make your first goals manageable for yourself; pursuing these objectives, no matter how modest, will give you a sense of direction.
• Identify your life goals for the next five years: Make wise decisions right away regarding your health, relationships, career, or education. You can also seek out short-term therapy or qualified counseling to assist you in visualizing a better future for yourself.
• Developing your gratitude: For just one week, consider focusing at the end of each day on three positive events for which you are grateful as well as the lesson they taught you.
• Plan to do something nice for someone, such as sending a card, email, or phone call to see how they are doing, volunteering at a charity, or performing any other act of kindness, such as giving a friend a sincere compliment.

In conclusion:

optimism does not always entail seeing the glass as half full; rather, it refers to having faith in your ability to fill it.