A simple secret of longevity: scientists have found another argument in favor of optimists

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According to a new study, optimists may live longer. This was the conclusion reached by experts from the T. H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health (USA) as a result of a large-scale study.

The results were published in the journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The conclusions were made on the basis of observation of more than 159,000 US women under the age of 26.

Research participants assessed their level of optimism using the “Life Orientation Test” questionnaire – one of the most common tests for assessing optimism indicators in research and practice. The scientists also took into account other factors, including the level of education, marital status, income and chronic diseases.

As the results of the study showed, those who fell into the 25% of most optimistic people lived an average of 5.4% longer than those 25% of their peers, whose level of optimism was the lowest. Optimists were also found to be more likely to live to age 90.

As the study authors note, higher levels of optimism were associated with longer life spans and a greater likelihood of longevity both overall and among different ethnic groups. “The contribution of lifestyle to these associations was modest,” they note.

One of the authors of the study, Hayami Koga, explains that positive psychological factors can moderate both psychological stress and physiological responses. In addition, optimists are likely to have greater social support, actively use problem-solving and planning strategies to minimize health risks, all of which also contribute to longevity.

Previous research has shown similar results. Thus, scientists from the Boston University School of Medicine concluded that optimism and a positive attitude to what is happening around are one of the conditions for “exceptional longevity” – reaching the age of 85.