People who are grateful for what they have "live longer and healthier."

A study found that people who are grateful for what they have tend to live longer.

 

According to a research team at the Harvard School of Public Health in the United States, older women who scored highest on a questionnaire measuring their level of gratitude had a 9% lower risk of premature death from all causes than women of the same age who scored lowest.

 

The research team analyzed data collected from the long-term Nurses' Health Study. More than 49,000 women with an average age of 79 who participated in the 2016 study completed a six-question gratitude test.

Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire containing questions such as, “I have so much to be grateful for in life” and “If I had to list everything I’m grateful for, it would be a very long list.”

 

Three years later, the research team followed up and found that over 4,600 participants had died, the most common cause being heart disease. The study found that those with the highest levels of gratitude had a lower risk of death from any cause compared to those with the lowest levels.

Gratitude was found to be protective against all specific causes of death included in the study, particularly heart disease. Other causes included cancer, respiratory disease, neurodegenerative diseases, infections, and injuries.

 

“These findings suggest that people can improve their health by focusing on things they are grateful for,” the research team said.

 

“Previous research has shown that there are ways to intentionally cultivate feelings of gratitude, such as writing down or discussing what you are grateful for several times a week,” said Dr. Chen Ying of the research team.

“Expressing or feeling gratitude can help people live longer and healthier lives,” he said.

 

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I need to be grateful today too

Can you live longer just by thinking gratefully?

 

A positive mind is good for your body

It seems to be generated from energy.