Positive Mindset as A Key Anti-Aging Strategy

A review of 160 published studies confirms a compelling connection between a positive state of mind and overall health and longevity. Ed Diener, from the University of Illinois (Illinois, USA), and colleagues found that subjects who reported high subjective well-being (such as life satisfaction, absence of negative emotions, optimism, and positive emotions) enjoyed better health and longer lives. As well, the   evidence associating a positive mindset and enjoyment of life to better health and longer life was stronger even than that linking obesity to reduced longevity.  Observing that: “Combined with experimental human and animal research, as well as naturalistic studies of changes of subjective well-being and physiological processes over time, the case that subjective well-being influences health and longevity in healthy populations is compelling,” the researchers submit that:” Positive feelings predict longevity and health beyond negative feelings.”

Ed Diener, Micaela Y. Chan. “Happy People Live Longer: Subjective Well-Being Contributes to Health and Longevity.”  Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, Volume 3, Issue 1, March 2011, Pages: 1–43.