Being pessimistic may extend your life

By Cassie Shortsleeve

Men's Health

Do pessimists live longer than optimists? That’s what new research in Psychology and Aging suggests.

In the study, people over the age of 65 who overestimated how satisfied they'd be with their life in 5 years had a greater chance of developing a disability or dying in that time. In fact, each point of overestimation on a 1 to 10 scale was linked to a 9.5 percent increase in disability and a 10 percent increase in death.

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Here's what's really going on: Negative outlooks are usually just more realistic, making you more likely to be careful and pay attention to your health, the researchers say.

So don't throw out your rose-colored shades. In fact, leave them on: A recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that positive thinking can help you battle health challenges.

When people with coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, or asthma wrote down their health goals (like sticking to doctor appointments), those who were also asked to think positive thoughts every morning stuck to their meds and hit the gym more than those who simply put pen to paper.

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For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCBP leaders cut out of Trump ad buy decision

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAmerican passenger drafted goodbye texts to her family as Flydubai plane plummeted

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation pushes embattled New York prosecutor into national spotlight

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

(Hit the gym, eat more vegetables, or quit smoking, and you'll Add Years To Your Life.)

More Links:

When Your Feelings Turn Fatal

The Mind Trick That Wards Off Aging

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