A positive attitude may help you live longer, new study finds

Does dark chocolate make us happy?

A recent study suggests that eating chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is linked to lower odds of depressive symptoms.

For years, the formula for protecting heart health seemed straightforward: maintain a balanced diet, stay active, avoid smoking, and keep cholesterol, blood pressure, and stress under control.

Now, scientists are increasingly exploring another potential piece of the puzzle — optimism. 

In a new study, researchers found that positive psychological well-being, which includes optimism, positive affect, and emotional vitality, was associated with lower cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Positive attitude may help you live longer

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In the study, researchers analyzed the findings of 18 randomized controlled trials evaluating positive psychological interventions in adults at risk of, or already living with, cardiovascular disease. 

Positive psychological interventions or PPIs included gratitude exercises, identification of personal strengths, engaging in acts of kindness or prosocial behavior, and other mindfulness-based practices.

The skills were practiced frequently at home through assignments and exercises over several weeks.

The results, published in the journal Cardiology Clinics, found that participants showed consistent improvements in cardiovascular risk factors and health behaviors after eight to 12 weeks. 

The study found that positive psychological well-being was associated with lower cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. (Credit: Getty Images)

For instance, some interventions reduced systolic blood pressure by 4 to 8 points.

Rosalba Hernandez, an associate professor of social work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who led the study, told The Washington Post that these findings were "clinically significant."

The researchers said the findings suggested that high-frequency delivery of PPIs sustained for at least 8 weeks was optimal for short-term risk reduction among patients with cardiovascular disease, emphasizing the potential for collaboration among cardiovascular practitioners and behavioral health professionals, such as clinical psychologists, behavioral medicine specialists or licensed social workers.

"Positive psychological well-being matters for CV [caridovascular] outcomes," the researchers wrote, adding. "Higher levels of psychological resources, such as optimism and emotional vitality, are associated with lower CV [cardiovascular] morbidity and mortality. Clinicians can acknowledge these psychological resources during routine clinical encounters and frame them as complementary to standard guideline-directed risk management." 

While these practices are not meant to replace medication, exercise or a healthy diet, Hernandez told The Washington Post that they can complement them.

"Positive emotion really does have an impact — both directly and indirectly," Hernandez said.

Researchers emphasized that although the findings are encouraging, long-term outcomes remain untested.

The link between happiness and healthiness

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The link between a person’s happiness and their health continues to be studied. 

Earlier this year, behavioral scientist and happiness expert Arthur Brooks, a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, referenced data from the Harvard Study of Adult Development – an 85-year longitudinal study of adult life – which identified six typical habits of people who were happier and healthier.

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While the first three habits were "obvious," Brooks said on Dr. Rhonda Patrick’s FoundMyFitness podcast, the other three were often overlooked.

He said the first three habits were following a healthy diet, exercising frequently and abstaining from smoking and drinking.

In addition, those who never stopped learning, became skilled problem solvers, and had a strong marriage or friendships, were likely to be healthier and happier, according to the study.