Optimists Live Longer

A recent study shows that being optimistic may lead to living longer.   In a study of 100,000 women, those rated optimistic were 14% less likely to die than pessimists during the study’s first eight years.

Why do optimists live longer?  The science doesn’t quite tell us but one theory presented is that “Optimists have strong social networks and handle stress better.”  Or perhaps it’s that people tend to do things longer when they really enjoy what they’re doing, and that includes living.

Source:  Do Good, Feel Good… Be Well.  Reader’s Digest, June 2009.

Tagged as: happiness, health, life, optimism

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