Pessimists die younger

My mother -in-law is the most pessimistic person I know. She's still being pessimistic at 94.
Link's behind a paywall, bags.

I'd read that its intelligent to worry as it meant that worriers were more prepared when/if the worst happened. They tend to have worked out a plan B and C!

Oh so thats what you're supposed to do! Thanks Jane 10 .

What does that say about Theresa May, Jane?

here it is, dj:

Always look on the bright side of life: the alternative may be not looking at any side of life at all. Pessimists are about twice as likely to die of heart disease as people who take a more balanced view, scientists have discovered.

Psychiatrists at the Paijat-Hame Central Hospital in Finland followed 2,267 patients aged between 52 and 76 for 11 years. At the start all the participants were asked how much they agreed with statements such as “If something can go wrong for me, it will”, as well as more upbeat mottoes.

By the end of the study, 121 patients had died from coronary heart disease (CHD). Those who died and the survivors had scored roughly the same for optimism, but those who had died of CHD were much more pessimistic than those who survived. The pessimists were about 120 per cent more likely to die of the disease even after other risk factors were taken into account.

Writing in BMC Public Health, the researchers said it could be that people who expected the worst were less likely to make efforts to improve their health.

One can plan ahead, jane10, without being a pessimist. Being realistic about things that can go wrong, and being prepared for the most obvious ones, isn't the same as pessimism.

Remember the song "Always Look on the Bright side of Life"?

My granny was a pessimist (everything was ALWAYS greener on the other side) She lived to be 94. My mother (who was an eternal optimist despite a horrendous first marriage and many years of fighting cancer) died at 70.

As John Cleese said in Clockwise: it's not the despair, I can cope with the despair. It's the hope I can't stand.

I agree with bags - I would describe myself as an optimistic realist. I like to be prepared, as much as I can, and so I tend to have 'planned responses' in mind for various things, but then I mostly just get on and hope for the best outcome.

Ah but real pessimists can come up with potential problems that you cheery types couldn't imagine! All this glass half full/half empty stuff only suits you lucky types who have glasses in the first place. Its not worth my while having a glass -I'd only break it.

Perhaps pessimists don't mind dying younger.

They expect to of course!

There's no hope for me then [sad[

However it is a proven scientific fact that people who have more birthdays live longer.

Unless you were born on 29th February, of course!

My glass has a big hole in the bottom.

When ipointed this study out to my pessimistic DH he said " I always felt I'd die young" I rest my case!!!