Positive thinkers are more likely to live longer than negative thinkers. This is according to a combination studies conducted the Boston University School Medicine the health of people the USA. Researchers looked data the 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 the age 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 the two studies answered questions a survey. The questions assessed their levels optimism. The surveys matched these levels the participants' overall level of health. They were also asked about their levels exercise, their diets, as well as how much they smoked and drank. Professor Lewina Lee said: "Our findings speak to the possibility that raising levels optimism may promote longevity and healthy ageing." She had some advice pessimists who might want to live longer. The advice was to, "imagine a future which everything has turned well". She urged people to increase levels optimism. She said it was healthier people to look the bright side of life.
