Study shows that being happy helps people live healthier lives. Happiness is linked to less decline in the body on a daily basis.
And if the key to a healthy old age was to be happy on a daily basis. This is not a simple theory, but the result of a study conducted by the serious University College of London (Great Britain). Published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, this research shows that happy people live longer, healthier lives.
Less trouble getting dressed
The research team followed a cohort of nearly 3,200 people aged 60 and over for 8 years. These participants, broken down by decade, were asked about their emotional and physical well-being. The results of the interviews were used to define the relationship between happiness and good health, in particular through daily autonomy and walking speed.
Happy seniors walk faster longer than their less optimistic counterparts. Enjoying life to the fullest also allows you to stay more active on a daily basis. “The study shows that older people who are happy and enjoy life more experience a slower decline in physical function,” says Dr. Andrew Steptoe, author of the study. “They are less likely to develop disabilities in their daily lives. »Indeed, they are more independent: they have less difficulty getting out of bed, dressing and washing.
Younger and richer
Unsurprisingly, those who suffered from chronic diseases (heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, depression …) were also the least happy in the study. Researchers estimate that mental illness triples the risk of early disability on a daily basis.
During the study, the happiest were generally between the ages of 60 and 69. The researchers also noted that married people, who work and have a high socio-economic status, are happier than others. But “just because the happiest people are healthier, younger, richer or have healthier lifestyles from the start,” says Steptoe. “Even when we take these factors into account, the connection persists. According to the team, improving the well-being of older people could have many beneficial effects both for society and for health systems, which face the ever-increasing burden of dependent older people.
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