Health
Gloomy Outlook Can Make You Sick
Over-pessimistic? Bad for your health, researchers say.
A study of 224 middle-aged and older adults at Ohio State University says pessimism, not optimism, may be a key indication of how healthy you'll be in later life. Writing in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, lead researcher Susan Robinson-Whelen says "pessimism, not optimism, was a prospective predictor of psychological and physical health outcomes" when those studied were observed a year later.
Half the subjects involved were caregivers for family members suffering from Alzheimer's disease. They were observed over a three-year period and contacted at one-year intervals concerning their levels of stress, anxiety and pessimism and optimism.
The impact of pessimism was less significant among caregivers, researchers say, because of the influence of dealing with individuals suffering from a debilitating disease. However, those not involved in caregiving tended to be more seriously affected.
A study of 224 middle-aged and older adults at Ohio State University says pessimism, not optimism, may be a key indication of how healthy you'll be in later life. Writing in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, lead researcher Susan Robinson-Whelen says "pessimism, not optimism, was a prospective predictor of psychological and physical health outcomes" when those studied were observed a year later.
Half the subjects involved were caregivers for family members suffering from Alzheimer's disease. They were observed over a three-year period and contacted at one-year intervals concerning their levels of stress, anxiety and pessimism and optimism.
The impact of pessimism was less significant among caregivers, researchers say, because of the influence of dealing with individuals suffering from a debilitating disease. However, those not involved in caregiving tended to be more seriously affected.
