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davidn3600

(6,342 posts) Thu Feb 28, 2013, 04:13 AM Feb 2013

7

Study: Pessimists are more likely to live longer

Older people blighted by pessimism and fear for the future are more likely to live longer, according to scientists.

A study, into 40,000 adults across ten years, has found those with low expectations for a “satisfying future” actually led healthier lives.

In contrast, people who were “overly optimistic” about the days ahead had a greater risk of disability or death within ten years.

The extraordinary research, published by the American Psychological Association, will not doubt prove comfort to anyone with a tendency to grumpiness.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9898519/Victory-for-Victor-Meldrew-as-pessimistic-people-live-longer.html

19 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Study: Pessimists are more likely to live longer (Original Post) davidn3600 Feb 2013 OP

If that's the case, I'll easily live to see 100. catbyte Feb 2013 #1

Then I'm never gonna die... RudynJack Feb 2013 #2

Live long... defacto7 Feb 2013 #3

Dead (wo)man talking here Summer Hathaway Feb 2013 #4

Pessimists go through life expecting the worst and being pleasantly surprised Warpy Feb 2013 #5

Possibly because they take fewer risks? LeftishBrit Feb 2013 #6

My thought as well Sherman A1 Feb 2013 #7

or since we are pessimists the negative things don't affect us as much as JI7 Feb 2013 #12

Not if we have insomnia mucifer Feb 2013 #8

Jezus, I hope not condoleeza Feb 2013 #9

omg, noooooooooo! i was hoping for an early and painful death & avoiding the inevitable HiPointDem Feb 2013 #10

is this something i should be happy about ? JI7 Feb 2013 #11

How about people who start smoking, optimistic in their future ability to quit? Quantess Feb 2013 #13

Of course they aren't FBaggins Feb 2013 #14

doubtingThomas67 says... dtom67 Feb 2013 #15

I'm an optimist... RevStPatrick Feb 2013 #16

Perhaps because they're more likely to accept and deal with reality. ....... marmar Feb 2013 #17

Oh hell, you mean I get to be this way even longer CBGLuthier Feb 2013 #18

An optimist may have a better outlook on life but a pessimist collects on more bets. hobbit709 Feb 2013 #19

catbyte

(34,403 posts)

1. If that's the case, I'll easily live to see 100.

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 04:15 AM

Feb 2013

RudynJack

(1,044 posts)

2. Then I'm never gonna die...

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 04:15 AM

Feb 2013

goddammit.

defacto7

(13,485 posts)

3. Live long...

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 04:22 AM

Feb 2013

and miserable!!!

Sing along....

I hate people!
I deplore them.
Drinking from their insolent glasses,
Sitting on their indolent asses.
I hate people!

And i don't care if they hate ME!

Summer Hathaway

(2,770 posts)

4. Dead (wo)man talking here

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 04:26 AM

Feb 2013

I should have been dead years ago, according to this study.

Maybe pessimists live longer because they actually WANT to die younger - but, oh, NOES!!!, the universal PTB just WON'T let them have their wish!!!

The Perpetual Pessimists I've known in my life cling to this mortal coil for one reason only: just for the satisfaction of saying "I told ya so" every time something goes wrong.

Not a good way to live, IMHO.

Warpy

(111,277 posts)

5. Pessimists go through life expecting the worst and being pleasantly surprised

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 04:45 AM

Feb 2013

while optimists go through life expecting everything to be hunky-dory and are frequently crushed by adverse events.

I'll cling to my pessimism and sour disposition, thanks. Now I have another reason besides being prepared for the worst to happen because it generally does.

LeftishBrit

(41,208 posts)

6. Possibly because they take fewer risks?

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 04:49 AM

Feb 2013

Pessimists are less likely to assume that 'it can't happen to me', so are likely to be more cautious.

Sherman A1

(38,958 posts)

7. My thought as well

Reply to LeftishBrit (Reply #6)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 05:01 AM

Feb 2013

I would believe that this group is more cautious in their dealings with the world around them.

JI7

(89,252 posts)

12. or since we are pessimists the negative things don't affect us as much as

Reply to LeftishBrit (Reply #6)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 06:04 AM

Feb 2013

those optimists who can't believe it happened to them.

mucifer

(23,550 posts)

8. Not if we have insomnia

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 05:07 AM

Feb 2013

condoleeza

(814 posts)

9. Jezus, I hope not

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 05:49 AM

Feb 2013

HiPointDem

(20,729 posts)

10. omg, noooooooooo! i was hoping for an early and painful death & avoiding the inevitable

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 05:52 AM

Feb 2013

zombie apocalypse at the end of history.

shit.

JI7

(89,252 posts)

11. is this something i should be happy about ?

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 06:00 AM

Feb 2013

Quantess

(27,630 posts)

13. How about people who start smoking, optimistic in their future ability to quit?

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 06:08 AM

Feb 2013

Use wishful thinking and decide this purple mole, this lumpy breast or testicle is nothing to be concerned about.

FBaggins

(26,748 posts)

14. Of course they aren't

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 06:19 AM

Feb 2013

it just seems that way.

dtom67

(634 posts)

15. doubtingThomas67 says...

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 06:46 AM

Feb 2013

I doubt it....

RevStPatrick

(2,208 posts)

16. I'm an optimist...

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 09:30 AM

Feb 2013

...but I'm also a total cynic.
How does that work?

I wanna live to 88, like the keys on a piano.
Not a minute longer, thank you very much...

marmar

(77,081 posts)

17. Perhaps because they're more likely to accept and deal with reality. .......

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 09:47 AM

Feb 2013

......... and not live in some delusional fantasy world.

CBGLuthier

(12,723 posts)

18. Oh hell, you mean I get to be this way even longer

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 10:02 AM

Feb 2013

Just my miserable luck.

hobbit709

(41,694 posts)

19. An optimist may have a better outlook on life but a pessimist collects on more bets.

Reply to davidn3600 (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 10:04 AM

Feb 2013

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