Recent studies have highlighted the significant impact of optimism on women's health and longevity. Research funded by the National Institute on Aging found that higher levels of optimism are associated with a longer lifespan and improved emotional health in women across diverse racial and ethnic groups, suggesting that fostering a positive outlook can be a valuable strategy for enhancing well-being and promoting healthy aging. In today’s article, we will explore the key findings of the study and actionable items from Carebee, to help boost optimism!

Study Background

This is a collaborative study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, involving researchers from Harvard University; Boston University School of Medicine; Kaiser Permanente; University of California, Davis; University of California, San Diego; and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Researchers analyzed data from over 150,000 women ages 50–79 from a racially diverse background
Each participant in the study completed a validated optimism test and provided demographic and health information.

Findings

Increased Longevity: When scientists analyzed the data, they found that the most optimistic women lived, on average, 5.4% longer (approximately 4.4 years) than the least optimistic women.
The most optimistic women were also more likely to achieve exceptional longevity, defined as living over 90 years. These trends were consistent across all racial and ethnic groups.
Improved Emotional Health: A positive outlook is linked to better emotional well-being, reducing the risk of depression and anxiety.
Healthier Lifestyle Choices: Optimistic individuals are more likely to engage in health-promoting behaviors, such as regular exercise and balanced nutrition.
The study tested the hypothesis that optimistic people are likelier to engage in behaviors that promote health and longer lifespan, testing characteristics such as exercise, diet, body mass index, smoking history, and alcohol consumption - however researchers found that these factors only accounted for 25% of the link between optimism and longevity. These results suggest that the link between optimism and lifespan may be partly due to healthier behaviors, but that other pathways and factors are also likely to be involved

“Because optimism is a modifiable characteristic that can be changed with interventions like writing exercises and therapy, improving optimism may be an effective strategy to improve health and extend lifespan across racial and ethnic groups.”, states the study.

Tips from Carebee: How can we be more Optimistic?

Surround Yourself with Positive and Optimistic Individuals

As we’ve learned, positivity and optimism are a mindset and that may just be contagious. Have you heard the saying “you are the product of the 5 closest people surrounding you”? What that truly speaks to is that the closest interactions to you may dictate how you feel about yourself and the world around you. If your environment is bringing you down mentally, there are things we can do to meet new people or simply get involved in interactions that fuel you! There are a few ways you can do that:

Sign-up for a lunch program at the seniors center near you or join another social club: visit the Carebee Rolodex, under the main Carebee Portal page and click the ‘Social/Support Services’ category to learn about various programs available near you (you need to be logged in to your Carebee Free Member Profile, linked here)

Sign-up for an educational course or program (virtual or in person) to learn about something new to keep you fuelled and excited: visit the Carebee Rolodex, under the main Carebee Portal page and click the ‘Learning’ category to learn about various programs available near you (you need to be logged in to your Carebee Free Member Profile, linked here)

Practice “Play”

When we were launching our Carebee Member Portal and the Carebee Senior Services listing, our thoughts came back to one idea - we want to have positive interactions with our members and show up authentically for our community, so if and when times do get tough, we are better equipped to help and provide support to our members. This is why we created the Carebee Monthly Member Exclusive events - with the pure purpose of PLAY! It fuels us, it’s a nice excuse to play games and laugh authentically and also connect. We absorb enough informational and educational content, and it’s key to have a balanced perspective, so enjoying allocated time for play is truly refreshing for us. If you are a Carebee member, you already receive our Monthly Member event invitations (virtual bingo, scattergories, scavenger hunts, etc.). If you are not a member, you can register at www.carebee.ca.

But remember, practicing “play” truly is an inside job, and the rest is here for your enjoyment and to help you get on that path! Be playful with your pet, friend, neighbour; make a game out of watching cars passing on the street; as a stranger a random question!

Therapy

We cannot deny the benefits of various therapies: cognitive behavioral therapy, music therapy, and laughing therapy. We are not meant to function in isolation and there are resources we can leverage to build our mental supportive network. Visit the Carebee Rolodex listing and visit the “Music & Other Therapies” category to see various businesses and services in that category.

Thank you for reading and until next time!

Team Carbeee

Source: Optimism linked to longevity and well-being in two recent studies; Published December 8, 2022; National Institute on Ageing https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/optimism-linked-longevity-and-well-being-two-recent-studies

Optimism and Healthy Aging: How a Positive Outlook Can Enhance Longevity in Women