Psychology Today | 13.07.2026 19:18
Optimism has long been dismissed as little more than positive thinking, but growing evidence suggests it is a powerful biological asset. Large prospective cohort studies and meta-analyses show that people with higher levels of optimism live 5–15 percent longer, have a 13–14 percent lower risk of death from any cause—even after accounting for depression, health behaviors, and chronic illness—and, on average, live four to eight years longer than their less optimistic peers; however, the exact benefit varies across populations. 1
