Older people who are pessimists tend to live longer than optimists, according to researchers in Germany and Switzerland.
When I heard about the research one morning on National Public Radio, I was curious to find out more.
“It is possible that a pessimistic outlook leads elderly people to look after themselves and their health better and take greater precautions against risks,” explains one of the researchers, Frieder Lang, in a German publication.
“How scientific was the research?” asks my daughter, who is almost finished with her master’s in behavior analysis.
And, I have a few questions myself. Do younger pessimists live longer? How pessimistic do you have to be to ensure that you will live longer? Would these pessimists be happier if they were a little more optimistic?
I think I’ll strive to be optimistic and to take care of myself so that I’ll be an exception.
–Joy