Positive thinkers are more likely to live longer than negative thinkers. This is according to combination of studies conducted by Boston University School of Medicine into health of people in the USA. Researchers looked at data on health of 70,000 female nurses and 1,500 male military veterans. They discovered that people who were optimists (people who thought positively) were more likely to live to age of 85. They said people who were more pessimistic (those who thought negatively) were 11-15 per cent less likely to live to that age. The researchers believe that optimists (positive thinkers) found it easier to manage stress than pessimists (negative thinkers).
Participants in two studies answered questions in survey. questions assessed their levels of optimism. surveys matched these levels with participants' overall level of health. They were also asked about their levels of exercise, their diets, as well as how much they smoked and drank. Professor Lewina Lee said: "Our findings speak to possibility that raising levels of optimism may promote longevity and healthy ageing." She had some advice for pessimists who might want to live longer. The advice was to, "imagine future in which everything has turned out well". She urged people to increase levels of optimism. She said it was healthier for people to look on bright side of life.
