Pessimists may live longer and healthier lives

Mar 01, 2013 |

Pessimists have something to cheer about! Older people blighted by pessimism and fear for the future are more likely to live longer and healthier lives than those who see brighter days ahead, according to scientists. “Our findings revealed that being overly optimistic in predicting a better future was associated with a greater risk of disability and death within the following decade,” said lead study author Frieder R. Lang .

“Pessimism about the future may encourage people to live more carefully, taking health and safety precautions,” said Lang in the study published by the American Psychological Association. Lang and colleagues examined data collected from 1993 to 2003 for the national German Socio-Economic Panel, an annual survey of private households consisting of approximately 40,000 people 18 to 96 years old.

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