Except for the lack of use of the left arm/hand and the inability to run I have high life satisfaction.
UBC(University of British Columbia) study finds high life satisfaction linked to better overall health
(info at bottom)
New
research from UBC finds that higher life satisfaction is associated
with better physical, psychological and behavioural health.
The research, published recently in The Milbank Quarterly, found that higher life satisfaction is linked to 21 positive health and well-being outcomes including:
- a 26 per cent reduced risk of mortality
- a 46 per cent reduced risk of depression
- a 25 per cent reduced risk of physical functioning limitations(I already have this.)
a 12 per cent reduced risk of chronic pain
- a 14 per cent reduced risk of sleep problem onset
- an eight per cent higher likelihood of frequent physical activity
- better
psychological well-being on several indicators including higher:
positive affect, optimism, purpose in life, and mastery—as well as
lower: hopelessness, negative affect, perceived constraints, and
loneliness Dr.
Eric Kim and his team examined data from a nationally representative
sample of 12,998 U.S. adults over age 50, in which participants were
asked to self-evaluate their life satisfaction and health. This
study is the first to see whether a positive change in life
satisfaction is associated with better outcomes on a wide range of
physical, behavioural and psychosocial health and well-being indicators
over a four-year period. “Life
satisfaction is a person’s evaluation of his or her own life based on
factors that they deem most relevant,” says Dr. Kim, an assistant
professor in UBC’s psychology department and lead author of the study.
“While life satisfaction is shaped by genetics, social factors and
changing life circumstances, it can also be improved on both the Enhancing life satisfaction at the policy levelDr.
Kim says in recent years, intergovernmental organizations such as the
United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization have urged
countries to use well-being indicators in addition to traditional
economic indicators, like GDP, when making policy decisions. “The
results of this study suggest that life satisfaction is a valuable
target for policymakers to consider when enhancing physical,
psychological and behavioural health outcomes at the policy level,” says
Dr. Kim. The
researchers decided to examine a four-year time period as there is
emerging evidence that indicates changing levels of life satisfaction is
an important determinant of voting behaviour. Further, election cycles
happen approximately every four years in many countries. “It
is in the interest of policymakers’ election and reelection campaigns
to consider how life satisfaction can be improved,” says Dr. Kim. “But
more importantly understanding what the downstream health and well-being
effects of altering life satisfaction might be for populations over a
four-year period is critical to evaluate, and this is precisely the kind
of question we tried to answer in our study.”Dr.
Kim says policy-makers who are interested in looking for practical
ideas on how to improve life satisfaction at the policy level can look
to the Global Happiness and Well-Being Policy Report, which is generated
out of a broader UN initiative co-led by UBC economics professor
emeritus Dr. John Helliwell and Columbia University professor Dr.
Jeffrey Sachs. “As
our nations pause and reevaluate our priorities in light of the
widespread change caused by COVID-19, our policymakers have a rare and
excellent opportunity to pursue well-being for all in the post-pandemic
world.”Permalink:
Contact:
Wan Yee Lok
UBC Media Relations
Tel: 604.822.4549
wanyee.lok@ubc.ca
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