Dutch researchers have found that the most optimistic participants among a group of 545 men, aged 64 to 84, were 50% less likely to die from cardiovascular causes during a 15 year study.
The men were assessed for their level of optimism every five years from 1985 to 2000, with statements such as “I do not look forward to what lies ahead for me in years to come” or “I am still full of plans.” Higher optimism scores were linked to being younger, being better educated, living with others, having better health, and being more physically active.
(Dispositional Optimism and the Risk of Cardiovascular Death: The Zutphen Elderly Study. Achives of Internal Medicine 2006.)