Think positive, ladies. Your health depends on it

Many studies suggest that people who possess a sunny outlook on life tend to have better health and live longer. Here's more evidence for the theory. A study by cardiac researchers showed that optimistic women had a lower risk of developing heart disease or dying of any cause compared to pessimistic women.

The study, published today in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Assn., studied 97,253 postmenopausal women ages 50 to 79 from the U.S. Women's Health Initiative study. The women did not have cancer or heart disease at the start of the study. They completed questionnaires designed to assess their emotional outlook. After eight years of follow-up, the optimistic women had a 9% lower risk of developing heart disease and a 14% lower risk of dying from any cause compared to the pessimistic women. Women who had a high degree of cynical hostility were 16% more likely to die during the eight years of follow-up compared to women with a low degree of cynical hostility.

"The majority of evidence suggests that sustained, high degrees of negativity are hazardous to health," the lead author of the study, Dr. Hilary A. Tindle, of the University of Pittsburgh, said in a news release.

Race was found to be a factor in modifying the relationship between optimism and death.  Among African American women, optimists had a 33% lower risk of death after eight years of follow-up. Among white women, optimists had a 13% lower risk. The study found that optimists tended to be younger, live in the Western United States, report higher education and income, be employed, have health insurance and attend religious services at least once a week.

-- Shari Roan

Photo: Lawrence K. Ho  /  Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Patricia Yeargin]

Wow, so it's the attitude of younger, more affluent, employed, and better-insured women that helps them live longer. Silly me, I thought maybe those other factors (not to mention those that the author doesn't mention like smoking and exercise) might be partly responsible for living longer. Not to mention that people who are not well already (whether or not they have been diagnosed with the conditions in question) are less likely to work and go to church regularly, so the sample is suspect to start with.

The weight of all the studies that have been done so far on attitude have not shown that it contributes to longevity or wellness, though it certainly may contribute to quality of life. It also may affect whether you exercise or eat well. But saying that attitude alone contributes to women's (excuse me, "ladies" health) is patronizing, inaccurate, and annoying.

[Leigh]

No kidding, Patricia. Though I'd like to believe longevity is as simple as having a half full glass of optimism every day, it is hard for me to believe that this study doesn't carry a bunch of flaws. I can't say that women that possess all these factors mentioned in the article couldn't still be pessimistic in some way, but surely a general idea is that women who don't possess these factors may have less to feel optimistic about. I can't see how this study can openly omit diet, exercise and lifestyle and expect an honest outcome.