Does personality determine health? Optimists reduce the risk of heart disease by 35%, which is closely related to these "two attitudes"
Optimists have a 35% lower risk of heart disease
Do you think personality affects health? For example, the length of life and the chance of suffering from heart disease? If so, why? From a scientific research perspective, optimistic people do seem to be healthier:
In 2019, a systematic review and comprehensive analysis involving 220,000 people pointed out that people with a more optimistic attitude had a 35% lower risk of cardiovascular events and a 14% lower mortality rate.
In July 2022, another comprehensive analysis showed that more optimistic people not only have a lower mortality rate, but also have a nearly 40% reduction in cardiovascular risk compared to pessimists.
The American Heart Association proposed in 2021 that the patient’s mental health status should be included when assessing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Are more willing to “believe” that they will become healthier
However, simply having the psychological traits of “optimism” or “pessimism” does not necessarily lead to physical and mental benefits. Rather, in response to adversity such as health problems, the coping methods adopted by optimists are more likely to improve the disease. At the same time, optimistic people are more willing to “believe” that they will become healthy, and then take more positive actions.
“How does optimism help people survive life’s crises and challenges? The answer is that optimists and pessimists have different strategies for coping with problems. Optimists are more likely to use proactive strategies to deal with problems… In one study, optimistic cancer patients used proactive coping strategies more often than pessimists. Optimistic patients try their best to face cancer and talk about their feelings with others; pessimistic patients avoid thinking about their situation and distance themselves from their feelings…
Optimistic patients are more likely to reduce dietary saturated fatty acids, reduce body fat, and increase oxygen capacity. These optimistic patients clearly believed they could achieve their rehabilitation goals and therefore adopted beneficial strategies. Other studies have found that optimists pay more attention to health-related messages, do more exercise, eat healthier, and have fewer harmful health infections than pessimists. Habits such as drug abuse.” (See Jerry M. Burger “Personality Psychology”)
Increased sense of control reduces mortality in elderly by half
Do you see the secret? The reason why optimistic people are healthier is not because they naively believe that the god of luck will come to help them eliminate all their troubles, but that most of them are more willing to “actively respond” and “face it as best they can.” Some neuroscientists believe that just in the brain, When you imagine solving a problem, you activate the prefrontal cortex of your brain, which helps you control rationally and make better decisions.
On the other hand, adopting proactive coping strategies for health problems means giving yourself more control. The impact of a sense of control on physical and mental health cannot be underestimated. In a nursing home experiment, the elderly were divided into two groups. One group was allowed to arrange their daily lives as they pleased, while the control group was told not to worry about life. Eighteen months later, the health status and social activities of this group of elders who arranged their own lives had improved, and their mortality rate was 50% lower than that of the control group." (See Sebastian Purps-Pardigol: The Art and Science of Leadership, pp. 131-133)
Optimism affects immune system function
“Optimistic people attribute failure to external causes and to unstable or controllable events. This coping style has an important impact on physical and mental health. Researchers have shown that optimism affects immune system function.
Optimistic people experience fewer physical symptoms when sick, recover faster from some illnesses, and are generally healthier and live longer. Your positive outlook on events (optimism) not only helps reduce chronic stress on your body, but also makes you more likely to engage in healthy behaviors.” (See Richard J. Gerrig: Psychology and Life)
What can you do to make yourself more optimistic or reduce the negative impact of pessimism on your health? Psychologist Richard J. Gerrig recommends minimizing malicious criticism of yourself and not blaming problems on traits you cannot change. You can also find close friends to share your feelings, joys, and worries with each other. Find time to relax appropriately, whether it is meditation, massage or other activities you like.
Of course, exercise remains one of the most effective methods and has the strongest scientific evidence. Which sport you ask? Any exercise is fine, as long as you find it interesting and fun when exercising and can continue to do it, it is a good exercise. It can also help prevent dementia and heart disease, so why not do it?
Further reading:
