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18.07.2024

Gratitude may be a longevity factor

If you are grateful for what life has brought you, you will live longer than if you go through life bitterly. This is suggested by an American epidemiological study published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Study
Epidemiologists at Harvard University analyzed data from nearly fifty thousand older female health care workers who participated in the Nurses' Health Study.

In 2016-2019, the women answered questions about their lifestyle, health and psychological health. This also included questions about gratitude. For example, the women had indicated whether they agreed with a statement such as "I have so much in life to be grateful for".

Results
The more grateful the study participants were, the lower their risk of death. When the researchers removed classic factors such as income, alcohol consumption and exercise, the association remained intact. If they corrected for psychological factors such as well-being and depression, there was still a statistically significant relationship, but it became less strong.

Click on the tables below for a larger version.

In the group of study participants with the highest scores for gratitude, the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease was significantly lower. The researchers found no link between gratitude and mortality from other causes.

Mechanism
The researchers do not understand the nature of the association between gratitude and living longer.

"The literature suggests that gratitude is inversely associated with risk factors of mortality", the write. "For instance, greater gratitude was associated with favorable profiles of cardiovascular biomarkers, such as endothelial function, prognostic inflammatory markers, and lipids, and greater adherence to healthy lifestyles (eg, diet, exercise, medication adherence)."

"A recent meta-analysis of longitudinal studies also found an inverse association between gratitude and depression (r = −0.33)."

"In addition, gratitude wascorrelated with other facets of psychosocial functioning, such as greater purpose in life and social support, which have been linked with increased longevity."

The researchers therefore argue for further studies.

Source:
JAMA Psychiatry. 2024 Jul 3:e241687.

More:
A life with ikigai is a longer life 22.11.2022
Accept yourself and live three years longer 19.11.2022
Autonomous people live longer 28.01.2021
Your life partner's happiness extends your life span 15.04.2019

Archives:
Psychology of Longevity
Psychology
Longevity

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