The hidden health benefit of staying positive in your middle age

 

I'm incredibly positive and it's all due to my stroke. And since at 69. I'm still in middle age since I'm getting to 100

My story: I would still be leading a life of quiet desperation if still married.

Why my stroke was the best thing to ever happen to me

Well, at age 50 I had my stroke and the result of that is making me happy for the rest of my life.  Got divorced at age 58, fired at age 56. All leading to moving to Michigan and finding lots of new friendships.

(Life is definitely better as I age, I got divorced enhancing my happiness immeasurably. I'm retired and comfortably well off. And healthy as I can be post stroke. I'm going to live a long time yet.)

The hidden health benefit of staying positive in your middle age

Maintaining a positive outlook could significantly reduce the risk of memory decline in middle age, according to a substantial 16-year study.

Researchers tracking more than 10,000 individuals over the age of 50 discovered a compelling correlation: participants reporting higher levels of wellbeing consistently achieved better scores on memory tests.

The extensive research indicated that those with a more positive disposition also reported a greater sense of personal agency, including enhanced feelings of control, independence, and the freedom to make their own choices.

While the observed link between positivity and cognitive health was modest in scale, the study's authors emphasised its statistical significance, suggesting a tangible connection between psychological state and the preservation of memory function as people age.

“This study represents an important step toward understanding the interplay between wellbeing and memory over time,” Co-author Joshua Stott, professor of ageing and clinical psychology at University College London, said.

“It offers new insights into how self-rated wellbeing is associated with memory and vice versa.

“While our findings are preliminary, they highlight the importance of considering psychosocial influences on brain health such as memory.”

The researchers suggested reasons why wellbeing may have a positive impact on memory, such as people may be more likely to exercise, which improves health (Alamy/PA)

The study tracked 10,760 men and women over 50 who took part in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

They were assessed on wellbeing and memory every two years – a total of nine times during the 16-year study period, starting in 2002.

Researchers checked people’s ability to learn and recall 10 words immediately and after a delay.

Wellbeing was also assessed using a quality-of-life questionnaire, looking at areas such as pleasure, control and autonomy.

Questions people were asked included the phrases: “I can do the things that I want to do”, and “I feel that life is full of opportunities”.

The study found a small but significant association between higher wellbeing and better memory, which still existed even after any depression was taken into account.

The researchers suggested reasons why well-being may have a positive impact on memory, such as people may be more likely to exercise, which improves health.

Age, gender, other lifestyle factors and socioeconomic status may also have a negative or positive impact on wellbeing and memory, they added.

The authors found no evidence that it was poor memory causing low wellbeing in some people, but they stressed this could not be ruled out.

The research was funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK and others, including the Medical Research Council.

The study found a small but significant association between higher wellbeing and better memory, which still existed even after any depression was taken into account. (Alamy/PA)

Emma Taylor, information services manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Loving your heart, staying sharp and keeping connected are key to protecting our brain health as we age.

“There are 14 established health and lifestyle risk factors for dementia, including lack of physical exercise, social isolation, and depression, which are linked to wellbeing.

“This study found that people over 50 who reported they felt happier and more fulfilled in life had a better memory over time.

“However, this research is observational – and more work is needed to understand how a positive wellbeing and memory are connected and whether this has a knock-on effect on dementia risk.

“Looking after our mental wellbeing plays an important part in our overall health.

“And it’s never too late to start taking steps to keep our brains healthy throughout our lives and lessen the devastating impact of dementia.”

Study co-author Dr Emily Willroth, assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, said: “Going forwards it would be fantastic if this research can build on the foundations of ongoing memory research to potentially inform strategies supporting cognitive health in ageing populations – that is the aim.”

The study was published in the journal Aging & Mental Health.

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The No. 1 personality trait linked to a long life: 'The effects of just being positive are overstated,' psychology expert says

 

The No. 1 personality trait linked to a long life: 'The effects of just being positive are overstated,' psychology expert says

The No. 1 personality trait linked to a long life: 'The effects of just being positive are overstated,' psychology expert says The No. 1 personality trait linked to a long life: 'The effects of just being positive are overstated,' psychology expert says Many centenarians credit their longevity, at least in part, to their positive attitude.

Roslyn Menaker, 103, told The Guardian that "happiness, joy, appreciation … a positive outlook," are why she has lived so long. Ruth Sweedler, 103, told CNBC Make It that she was always praised for her good attitude growing up. "When I walked into a classroom, my teacher would say, 'Good morning, sunshine!' Because I was so cheerful," she said.

While seniors might feel being positive has played a role in their longevity, the relationship between personality and aging is more nuanced, says David Watson, a former professor of personality psychology at the University of Notre Dame.

"I think the effects of just being positive are overstated," he says. But there are other traits he believes are closely linked to longevity. 

'Conscientious people don't do stupid things'

When breaking down personality, it's helpful to look at the Five Factor Model, a personality theory that suggests most people's traits can be grouped into five categories: openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. (I'm high in 1-4 and have none of 5.)

Conscientiousness, or how organized and disciplined you are, is the most related to longevity, Watson says.

This is likely because people with high degrees of conscientiousness are better at taking care of themselves. Conscientious people, for example, tend to drink alcohol in moderation(say it isn't so, alcohol has no redeeming use according to some.) and eat more balanced meals, he says. 

"Conscientious people don't do stupid things so they have lower rates of accidents and better health behaviors," he says.

Don't miss: 100-year-old sisters share 5 simple tips for leading a long, happy life

The good news is you can increase your conscientiousness with age. There are even conscientiousness workshops that seek to increase a person's ability to self-regulate, Watson says.

"The basic idea is if you want to increase your conscientiousness, act more conscientious, and the attitude follows the behavior," he says. "Try to be on time for things. Follow through on things." 

This doesn't mean a positive attitude does nothing, he adds.

Agreeableness can play a part in longevity, too, especially when it comes to weathering stressful situations. 

"Psychologically healthy people have a quicker recovery time," he says. "They are able to tell themselves, 'This is not that big of a deal.' They find ways to bring themselves back into that equilibrium." 

If you're living a healthy lifestyle and able to bounce back from hardship, that, Watson says, could lead to having a longer, more satisfying life. 

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Why we should say no to positivity — and yes to our negative emotions

I'm hearing it is ok to scream at your doctor for not providing ANY ROUTE TO RECOVERY. I disagree with the be polite statement.  

Why we should say no to positivity — and yes to our negative emotions

May 8, 2019 / Daryl Chen + Julia Fawal

Rose Wong

It sounds paradoxical, but accepting our negative emotions can actually make us happier in the long run. Psychologist Susan David explains how.This post is part of TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” series, each of which contains a piece of helpful advice from someone in the TED community; browse through all the posts here.

Most of us have been told to “Cheer up” or “Look on the bright side” by well-meaning family and friends. Sometimes, it’s because they see us looking sad, angry, anxious or frustrated, but it can also happen because we look pensive, uncertain or just about any state other than joyful. While we may be tempted to tell them “Stuff it,” we don’t because, well, feelings.
Next time, feel free to do so (but please be polite). “Being positive has become a new form of moral correctness,” says psychologist Susan David, founder and codirector of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital of Harvard University Medical School, an instructor in psychology at Harvard, and author of Emotional Agility (read an excerpt here).
Suppressing or turning away from our difficult emotions is not healthy or helpful, says David. “What happens is, it undermines our ability to deal with the world as it is, not as we wish it to be,” she says. “This is associated with lower levels of resilience, lower levels of wellbeing, and higher levels of depression and anxiety. And it also impacts our relationships and our ability to achieve our goals.”
So, what should we do instead?
“Instead of pushing it aside or forcing positivity, one critical way of dealing with a difficult emotion is to label it effectively. In my work, so often people will use very black-and-white labels to describe how they’re feeling,” says David. “‘Stressed’ is one of the most common ones. But there’s a world of difference between the stress of true overwhelm, stress because you’re disappointed, or the stress of knowing you’re in the wrong job or the wrong relationship. When we can label our emotions more accurately, it helps us understand the cause of those emotions and activates what’s called a ‘readiness potential,’ your ability to set goals and to make real concrete changes.”
Next, when you identify your emotion, “notice the emotion with compassion. People frequently think that compassion is about being weak or lazy or lying to yourself,” says David. “Actually compassion allows you to create a safe space within yourself in which you are then able to take more risks. You’re able to explore the world, and you’re able to be more effective, because you know that if things don’t go right that you will still like yourself, you’ll still be kind to yourself. Compassion is associated with greater levels of effectiveness.”
Finally, “try to notice the emotional story for what it is,” says David. Create some space between you and what you’re feeling by acting as an observer and naming all the dimensions of your experience. Instead of simply saying “I’m sad,” she suggests, “say something like, ‘I’m noticing that I’m feeling sad, I’m noticing that I’m feeling undermined, I’m noticing the urge to leave the room.’ This allows you to bring other parts of yourself — such as your values and your intentions — forward.” Doing this also puts you in charge rather than the emotion. “What’s more important is not whether you have negative thoughts or emotions but whether you get hooked into them,” she says, “which is when those thoughts start to drive your behaviors and your interactions.”
Watch her TEDWomen Talk now:

About the authors

Daryl Chen is the Ideas Editor at TED.
Julia Fawal is the Social Content Manager at TED.