(30-04-11) Happy people live healthier, longer lives

(NaturalNews) Happy people have an advantage over unhappy ones--they may be
healthier and may live longer. An extensive review of literature using seven
types of evidence indicates that high subjective well-being (SWB), such as life
satisfaction, optimism, and positive emotions, causes better health and
longevity. The review, published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being
(2011), examined 160 studies which showed compelling evidence that positive
feelings predict health and longevity.

The findings of the review, based from seven types of evidence, are summarized
below:

Longitudinal studies. These studies, which have large sample sizes and have
followed participants for a decade or more, revealed that SWB was related to
lower mortality rate in both healthy and diseased populations. Positive moods
such as joy and happiness, life satisfaction, hopefulness, optimism, and a
sense of humor were associated with reduced risk of mortality and predicted
longevity.

Physiology and health. Moods and emotions are associated with biological
markers such as blood pressure, cortisol, and inflammation. Studies found that
pessimists have higher blood pressure levels. Anger and hostility were related
not only to the development of cardiovascular disease, but also to disease
progression and inflammation. Stress predicted lower levels of immune response;
whereas, positive affect strengthened immunity. Positive affect was associated
with greater social connectedness, perceived social support, and greater
probability of performing healthy behaviors.

Experimental manipulations of emotions. In experimental studies, positive and
negative moods are induced which are then measured. Research showed that
participants exposed to positive mood induction had quicker cardiovascular
recovery after a stressful task than subjects who were exposed to neutral and
negative mood inductions. Studies also revealed that couples who were generally
higher in hostility had slower wound healing than low hostile couples, as well
as more tumor necrosis and a poorer immune response.

Animal studies. Animals are used in experimental research to obtain
information about how certain positive and negative situations affect their
health and longevity. Studies revealed that socially-stressed monkeys developed
more extensive atherosclerosis than unstressed ones. Stress, threatening human
behavior, and isolation suppressed the immune system of monkeys, chickens, and
pigs. Pigs that learned a mastery task to obtain rewards, giving them some
control over their environment, later showed quicker wound healing and carcass
quality.

Quasi-experimental studies in natural settings. Studies in quasi-experimental
studies suggest that events and disasters are associated with cardiovascular
and immune changes. Disasters, bereavement, and observing exciting sports
events can trigger cardiac deaths in vulnerable individuals. Further, people
with work overload and worry showed higher cortisol response at awakening and
on weekdays but not on weekends.

Interventions that influence SWB. Researchers found that transcendental
meditation and progressive relaxation reduced blood pressure over a 3-month
follow-up period, compared to a control group. People who wrote about intensely
positive experiences had fewer health center visits for illness during the
following 3 months, compared to people who wrote about a control topic.
Patients who suffered from myocardial infarction, who received Type-A
counseling (for Type A behavior) in addition to traditional cardiac counseling,
were less likely to die within 5 years.

SWB`s impact on quality of life and pain. Studies showed that positive
emotions were related to lower pain and greater tolerance for pain. Patients
suffering from fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis reported less pain with
positive mood induction while women reported less pain to heat stimuli when
looking at photos of their partner.

In sum, these converging studies form a compelling proof that SWB, such as
happiness, causally influences health and longevity.

[Editor`s Note: NaturalNews is strongly against the use of all forms of animal
testing. We fully support implementation of humane medical experimentation that
promotes the health and wellbeing of all living creatures.]

References:

Diener, E. & Chan, M. Y. (2011). Happy people live longer: Subjective well-
being contributes to health and longevity. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-
Being. doi:10.1111/j.1758-0854.2010.01045.x

Lyubomirsky, S., King, L. & Diener, E. (2005). The benefits of frequent
positive affect: Does happiness lead to success? Psychological Bulletin, 131
(6), 803-855.

Simsek, O.F. (2009). Happiness revisited:Ontological well-being as a theory-
based construct of subjective well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 10, 505-
522. doi: 10.1007/s10902-008-9105-6



About the author

Amy Chaves is a researcher, teacher, counsellor and writer. She has a Ph.D. in
Counselling Psychology from the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She is
currently writing a book on connectedness and writes blogs in her website,
which can be viewed at http://amychaves.blogspot.com/


Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032172_happiness_longevity.
html#ixzz1KeeFYm87

News

---

In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.