Can optimism help keep people alive? In the 1980s, researchers began the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MR FIT) study with 120 men who had a heart attack. These men allowed the researchers to look at their physical health (details such as heart damage, their blood pressure, cholesterol levels, body mass and lifestyle). They also talked with the researchers about their families, their lives, their jobs and how they spent personal time. The researchers noted whether the men were optimistic or pessimistic.
During this study psychologists and cardiologists offered training in an effort to change men’s personalities from type A (aggressive and time urgent) to an easy-going personality and experienced poor results in trying to change people's personalities.
However, some of the researchers continued with the study. Eight and ½ years later, half the men had died from another heart attack. The researchers noticed that the physical risk factors (from 8 ½ years earlier) did not predict the death of those men. They found that “optimism” could have predicted who died. “Of the sixteen most pessimistic men, fifteen died. Of the sixteen most optimistic men, only five died.”
However, some of the researchers continued with the study. Eight and ½ years later, half the men had died from another heart attack. The researchers noticed that the physical risk factors (from 8 ½ years earlier) did not predict the death of those men. They found that “optimism” could have predicted who died. “Of the sixteen most pessimistic men, fifteen died. Of the sixteen most optimistic men, only five died.”
The researchers found that “optimism is strongly related to protection from cardiovascular disease.” University of Pennsylvania, Positive Health, Http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/newsletter.aspx?id=1559
Well, folks, here we have it. Optimism (our attitude) helps keep us alive.
