Optimistic women likely to live longer

Study finds people with positive outlook less likely to develop diseases.

Women with an optimistic outlook may live longer and be less likely to develop heart disease than women who take a dimmer view of life.

The findings, published in the journal circulation, add to evidence that personality traits may affect people’s long –term health.

A number of studies have suggested that people with hostile, angry dispositions face higher risks of heart disease and other health problems. And in this study, women who scored high on a measure of ‘cynical hostility’ had higher risks of dying from any cause over eight years.

According to Dr. Hilary Tindle, the lead researcher on the study and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. But, the apparent effects of optimism and hostility were independent of each other. It’s possible that optimism has direct effects that help ward off disease.

Personality traits may influence the nervous, immune or hormonal systems in ways that affect the risks of a range of health problems. Optimists lead healthier lifestyles. Most optimistic women were less likely to smoke or be obese or sedentary; they had lower rates of high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.