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The number of people in the United States who live to be at least 100 years old is doubled in the past 10 years.
Many centenarians attribute their longevity, at least in part, to their positive attitudes.
Roslyn Menaker, 103, said. guardian “Happiness, joy, gratitude…a positive outlook” is what has allowed her to live so long. Ruth Swiedler, 103, told CNBC Make It that she was always complimented on her good attitude from an early age. “When I walked into the classroom, my teacher would say, ‘Good morning, sunshine!’ because she was so cheerful,” she said.
David Watson, a former professor of personality psychology at the University of Notre Dame, says that while older people may feel that being positive contributes to longevity, the relationship between personality and aging is more nuanced. .
“I think the benefits of just being positive are overstated,” he says. But there are other characteristics that he believes are closely related to longevity.
When analyzing personality, it’s best to focus on the Five-Factor Model, a personality theory that suggests that most people’s traits can be grouped into five categories: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Helpful.
Conscientiousness, or how organized and disciplined you are, is most associated with longevity, Watson said.
This is probably because people high in conscientiousness are better at taking care of themselves. For example, he says, conscientious people tend to drink alcohol in moderation and eat a more balanced diet.
“Conscientious people don’t do stupid things, so they have lower accident rates and better health behaviors,” he says.
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The good news is that you can increase your integrity with age. Watson says there are even conscience workshops aimed at increasing an individual’s ability to self-regulate.
“The basic idea is that if you want to increase your integrity, you act more authentically, and your attitude follows your actions,” he says. “Be punctual. See things through to the end.”
This doesn’t mean a positive attitude is of no use, he added.
Coordination may also contribute to longevity, especially when it comes to surviving stressful situations.
“People who are mentally healthy have a faster recovery time,” he says. “They can tell themselves, ‘This is no big deal.’ They find a way to get themselves back into that equilibrium.”
Watson says living a healthy lifestyle and being able to bounce back from adversity can lead to a longer, more fulfilling life.
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