A new study conducted by the University of British Columbia reveals that happy people have a lower risk of chronic pain, sleep problems, depression and even death.
- Conducted over 4 years on nearly 13,000 adults over the age of 50, the study shows that happiness is associated with greater life satisfaction is associated with a 26% reduction in the risk of mortality, a 46% reduction in the risk of depression.
- People who say they are satisfied with their life are also less likely to suffer from sleep problems, chronic pain, and more likely to engage in regular physical activity.
What if happiness allowed us to live longer and in better health?
This is the conclusion of a new study published in the journal The Milbank Quarterlywhich shows that greater life satisfaction is associated with better physical, psychological and behavioral health.
It was conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver (Canada), with a representative sample of 12,998 American adults over the age of 50. Participants were asked to self-rate their satisfaction with life, as well as their health. They were then followed for four years, during which they regularly answered questionnaires about their physical, behavioral and psychosocial health and well-being.
A 26% reduction in mortality risk
“Life satisfaction is a person’s evaluation of their own life based on the factors they deem most relevant, says Dr. Eric Kim, an assistant professor in UBC’s Department of Psychology and lead author of the study. If life satisfaction is shaped by genetics, social factors and changing life circumstances, it can also be improved both individually and collectively at the national level.”
The results are impressive. They show that greater life satisfaction is associated with a 26% reduction in the risk of mortality, a 46% reduction in the risk of depression, and a 25% reduction in the risk of limitation of physical functions. People who say they are happy also have a 12% lower risk of suffering from chronic pain and a 14% lower risk of sleep disorders. They also have an 8% increased likelihood of frequent physical activity and generally have better psychological well-being, based on several indicators such as positive affect, optimism, purpose in life and mastery.
For Dr. Kim, “The results of this study suggest that life satisfaction is a valuable goal that policy makers need to consider when improving physical, psychological and behavioral health outcomes at the policy level”. He says he decided to examine a period of data because changing levels of life satisfaction are an important determinant of voting behavior. And election cycles occur approximately every four years in many countries, including the United States.
“It is in the interest of election and re-election campaigns for policy makers to think about how life satisfaction can be improved”concludes Dr. Kim.
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