Family Encyclopedia >> Health

Optimists live longer

Optimists live longer

Is your glass half empty or half full? If the latter is the case, you're in luck:research shows that optimists live longer than pessimists.

Women who describe themselves as optimists live 15 percent longer than pessimists. They are also 50 percent more likely to live to the age of 85. As for the men, they have an 11 percent chance of living longer and they are 70 percent more likely to live to be 85 years old.

Read also: '9 tips for a more positive mindset'

Research

The study was conducted on nearly 70,000 women over 10 years and about 1,400 men over 30 years.

Researcher Lewina Lee:“We know that optimists have a lower risk of chronic disease and early death.”

Sleep

Another study of 3,500 adults between the ages of 32 and 51 shows that optimists sleep better and longer. 74 percent have less chance of sleeping problems.

Heart

Another 2015 study shows that the most optimistic people between the ages of 45 and 84 are twice as likely to have a healthy heart than the pessimists.