The Most Optimistic People Live 11 to 15 Percent Longer
The gap held even after researchers accounted for money, health, and habits.
Curiosity Chronicle · The Life Changing Magic of Active OptimismPeople with the sunniest outlook live, on average, 11 to 15 percent longer than people with the gloomiest outlook.
That was the result in a 2019 study by researchers at Harvard and Boston University that followed more than 70,000 people. Optimism, in this case, meant something simple: a basic sense that the future will be good.
What makes the finding hard to brush aside is what it ruled out. The longevity advantage remained after accounting for money, prior medical problems, social ties, and everyday habits.
Put another way, optimists did not live longer just because they were richer, healthier to start, better connected, or better behaved. Something about expecting good outcomes was associated with getting more time.
Questions people ask
Does this prove that optimism causes a longer life?
No. The study was observational, so it shows a link rather than proof of cause and effect. The researchers adjusted for many other factors, which makes the link stronger, but unmeasured differences could still play a role. Scientists usually point to coping, persistence with healthy habits, and stress physiology as possible explanations.
What does 11 to 15 percent mean in actual years?
It depends on the starting point, but the math is straightforward. For someone who would otherwise live to 80, living 11 to 15 percent longer works out to roughly nine to 12 additional years. For someone who would live to 70, it is roughly eight to 10 additional years.
Can a pessimist become more optimistic?
Research suggests outlook can shift with practice. Approaches studied include noticing catastrophic thoughts and testing them against evidence, keeping a brief gratitude routine, and setting small, achievable goals. None guarantees extra years, but they are linked in trials to less distress and more engaged coping.