Studies Show a Sunny Outlook is Good for Health, Longer Life

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

ROCHESTER, Minn. — An ever-expanding body of research indicates that a positive outlook may improve health, decrease the risk of depression and increase longevity. The July issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter highlights some studies and their findings.

In a Mayo Clinic study, more than 7,000 people completed a personality test in the early 1960s, and researchers tracked participants for more than 40 years. They found that for every 100 participants, the 25 who had scored as the most pessimistic, anxious and depressed had about a 30 percent greater chance of dying young, compared with those who were most optimistic, least anxious and least depressed.

An earlier Mayo Clinic study found similar results. More than 800 people were tracked for more than 30 years. Pessimistic thinkers had a 19 percent increased risk of early death, compared with their optimistic counterparts.

Optimists reported having fewer health problems and fewer difficulties with work or daily routines, and they were generally happier, calmer and more peaceful. They experienced less pain, had more energy and reported greater ease in social activities.

Researchers from the Women's Health Initiative, a study involving nearly 100,000 women age 50 and older, recently found that women who have an optimistic outlook lived healthier, longer lives than pessimistic women. During eight years of follow-up that began in 1994, optimists were 30 percent less likely to die of heart disease and 14 percent less likely to die of any cause when compared with pessimists.

General attitude in life is likely a combination of nature and nurture — genetics combined with life experiences. Changing one's thinking pattern can be challenging, but it's possible.

Change begins with awareness of negative thought patterns. For some people, self-help measures can change outlook. Options might be consciously looking for the good in life, being grateful, looking for pleasure in small things or practicing random acts of kindness. Other people may need treatment from a mental health professional to help shift to a more positive perspective.

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Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To subscribe, please call 800-333-9037 (toll-free), extension 9771, or visit www.healthletter.mayoclinic.com.

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About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world. Doctors from every medical specialty work together to care for patients, joined by common systems and a philosophy of "the needs of the patient come first." More than 3,700 physicians, scientists and researchers and 50,100 allied health staff work at Mayo Clinic, which has sites in Rochester, Minn; Jacksonville, Fla; and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz. and community based providers in more than 70 locations in Southern Minn., Western Wis. and Northeast Iowa. These locations treat more than half a million people each year. To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. For information about research and education, visit www.mayo.edu. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.