Do Optimists Live Longer?

Large study finds association between positive attitude and extended life span. Here's a good reason to turn that frown upside down: Optimistic people live as much as 15% longer than pessimists, according to a new study spanning thousands of people and 3 decades.

Why do optimists live longer?

Optimists tend to have better health habits (although this study found the effect independent of the most obvious ones, like smoking and exercise). They have stronger immunity and recover more quickly from heart surgery, for example, and have better survival rates with some cancers.

Do pessimists live longer?

They found people who are strongly pessimistic about the future are at greater risk of dying on average two years earlier than those who are not pessimists, but contrary to previous studies, being an optimist didn't extend life expectancy.