The secret to a long life has been revealed, and it's unexpected

Your outlook on life could be the reason you live long. A recent study shows that optimistic women are more likely to make it past 90 years, regardless of racial and ethnic background. The research supports previous studies linking optimism to long life.

Brighter side, brighter life

The research by a team from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health looked at data collected from some 160,000 racially and ethically diverse, postmenopausal women.

People of an upbeat disposition have previously been found to have a lower risk of heart conditions and premature death. Researchers now say it could also play a role in living a long life. The participants were between ages 50 and 79 and the data was collected over a 26-year period.

The researchers found that the 25% most optimistic participants were likely to live up to 5.4% longer and were 10% more likely to live beyond 90 than the least optimistic quarter participants, according to Today.com. The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found no significant change in the results regardless of demographic, chronic conditions and depression.

Lifestyle factors, such as regular exercise and healthy eating, accounted for less than a quarter of the optimism-lifespan association, indicating that other factors may be at play.

Environmental factors

However, this study is not encouraging you to bury your head in the sand when things get tough. According to Newsweek, the idea is to reframe difficult situations to find potential solutions while maintaining a sense of hope for the future. Speaking to the news outlet, one of the researchers at Harvard University, Hayami Koga said environmental factors are equally important in shaping your outlook.

Heritability studies have found optimism to be a little more than 25 percent genetic. Factors such as childhood environment, education, financial stability. There are a number of ways in which psychological factors can influence physical health.

Research suggested people who are more optimistic might also lead a healthier lifestyle.

Sources used:

Newsweek: Scientists Uncover the Secret to a Longer, Healthier Life: Optimism

Guardian: Optimism may hold secret to longer life, study suggests

Harvard TH Chan: High optimism linked with longer life and living past 90 in women across racial, ethnic groups

Today.com: Optimists live longer, study finds. Here's how to boost positive thinking

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