A positive view on life can result...

A positive view on life can result in a higher plain of mental and physical functioning, according to an Aug 12 2002 freshs release from the Mayo Clinic. In addition, optimists may have improved quality of life in their later years compared to pessimists.

Researchers studied data from a assemblage of 447 patients who complet the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) between 1962 and 1965 The MMPI is an assessment tool that helps researchers classify participants' personality traits. Seventy-four of the inquiry participants were classified as pessimistic, 101 as optimistic, and 272 as a mixture of the two

Researchers then reviewed follow-up health overlooks completed by the same participants in the 1990 Those participants classified as pessimistic reported poorer physical and mental health than their optimistic counterparts.

Pessimists scored lower than optimists onward quality of life assessments and lower than the national average in succession five of the eight scales measured (ie, physical functioning, physical part limitations, bodily pain, general health perception, vitality, social functioning, emotional character limitations, mental health). This research provides documentation for the widely held belief that attitude can affect well being. These originates come two years after another Mayo Clinic contemplation found that optimists live longer than pessimists.

Mayo Clinic investigation Finds Optimists Report a Higher Quality of Life than Pessimists (new release, Rochester, Minn: Mayo Clinic, Aug 12 2002) hltp://www.mayoclinic .org/news2002-rst/1406.html (accessed 16 Aug 2002)

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