Gratitude can prolong life

[Compiled and published by New Sancai] A new study reports that people who are grateful for the things they have tend to live longer.

Older women who scored highest on a gratitude questionnaire had a 9 percent lower risk of dying prematurely from any cause compared with women who were least grateful, according to findings published July 3 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

Ying Chen, the study's lead author and a research scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said in a press release that the findings suggest gratitude "may extend lifespan in older adults."

For the study, researchers analyzed data collected from the Long-Term Care Practitioners Health Study.

In 2016, more than 49,000 women in the study, with an average age of 79, completed a six-question gratitude test. They had to agree or disagree with statements such as "I have a lot of things in my life that I am grateful for" and "If I had to list everything I am grateful for, it would be a long list."

Researchers followed up three years later to determine the circumstances of the women's deaths. They found that more than 4,600 participants died, most commonly from heart disease.

The results showed that people who were most grateful had a lower risk of dying from any cause than those who were least grateful.

Researchers say gratitude appears to protect against every specific cause of death included in the study, especially heart disease deaths. Other causes include cancer, respiratory disease, neurodegenerative diseases, infection and injury.

Researchers say that based on this, people may be able to improve their health by focusing on the things they are grateful for.

"Previous research has shown that there are ways to consciously cultivate gratitude, such as writing or discussing things you are grateful for a few times a week," Chen Ying said. "Promoting healthy aging is a public health priority, and we hope to further "Research could improve our understanding of gratitude as a psychological resource that extends lifespan."

(Compiled by: Wang Jimin)

(Editor: Jiang Qiming)

(Source of the article: Compiled and published by New Sancai)