The study conducted by the Duke-Nus medical school in Singapore draws attention to an important but often underestimated aspect of our lives-emotional well-being, which, as it turned out, can directly affect life expectancy, especially among the elderly.
Having collected data from 4 478 Singaporeans aged 60 and older, the researchers analyzed how the level of happiness of participants is associated with their mortality during the six -year period. The participants were asked about their feelings of happiness, pleasure from life and hope for the future, on the basis of which they were divided into two groups: "happy" and "unhappy". The results of the study published in Age and Aging are striking: 20% of the participants from the "unhappy" group died during the study, while among the "happy" this figure was only 15%. This emphasizes that even a slight increase in the level of happiness can greatly extend life. According to Associate Professor Rakhul Malhotra, the senior author of research, an increase in the level of psychological well -being can be an important factor for increasing life expectancy among the elderly. He pointed to the potential of social initiatives aimed at improving the emotional state, which can lead to better results in the issue of longevity. Happiness, although it is a subjective concept, includes a number of positive emotions and attitudes that contribute to the general well -being of man. According to results, involvement in social activity, hobby activity and preserving a positive outlook are important factors that can increase happiness and, as a consequence, extend life.
This study is consistent with other works that emphasize the importance of psychological health to a person's physical condition. Therefore, focusing on emotional well -being can be useful not only at the individual level, but also on the state, helping the aging population to live longer and healthier.
