BEING CONSCIENTIOUS IS SECRET TO LONG LIFE: STUDY
Individual.Com
October 23, 2008
Original LinkThe secret to a long life is being conscientious, suggests a study, which links longevity to a person's temperament.
The life-prolonging benefits of a scrupulous life have come to light from a comparison of 20 previous studies which together rated 8,900 people for conscientiousness using a standard psychological survey.
"Highly conscientious people live on average two to four years longer," said Dr Howard Friedman, who led the fascinating study.
The findings, published in the journal 'Health Psychology', suggested that diligent, industrious and emotionally stable people live up to four years longer than those who are slapdash and complacent.
Linking health with temperament, Friedman said one of the reasons could be that "conscientious folks lead life patterns that are more stable and less stressful".
"These individuals are hardworking, resourceful, confident and ambitious," co-author Margaret Kern was quoted a saying by the New Scientist magazine.
Friedman of the University of California, Riverside, pooled the results of 20 studies comparing length of life with a standard psychological test and found that people who were the least conscientious were 50 per cent more likely to die at any given age than those who scored highly.
According to the report, research has shown that health is linked to status. People with PhDs often live longer than those with degrees, who live longer than non graduates, and Oscar-winners live around three years more than nominated actors who miss out.
One of the studies by Kern examined the lives of US presidents. George Washington, lived to 67 -- twice the norm at the end of the 18th century. "He was very conscientious, yet he certainly didn't live a boring life," she added.
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NHNE On Aging & Anti-Aging