Optimism not only morally makes life easier. It helps people live longer and less sick. This conclusion was reached by American physicians from the School of Medicine of the University of Pittsburgh, who conducted a long-term study in which more than 100,000 women aged 50 and over participated.

At the beginning of the study in 1994, they were asked to fill out questionnaires in which, in addition to physical data, the representatives of the fair sex themselves identified their psychological characteristics. For 10 years, specialists periodically collected data on "experimental". Then for several years physicians analyzed the information received.

As it turned out, among the optimists below the death rate. In addition, they are 30 percent less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease, and the cancer mortality rate is 23 percent lower than those who see life only on the dark side. The authors of the study found that optimistic people better tolerate stress. In addition, they trust doctors more and follow their advice. At the same time pessimists are less closely monitoring their health.

It is also significant that the life of optimists is more successful, not only in terms of health, but also in other spheres. This is confirmed by the results of other studies. So, optimists are better at doing business in business. They also, according to polls, spend more time at work, although at the same time, as they themselves say, less tired.

People who see everything in a joyful light, have great savings and more reasonably manage their finances. Another difference of optimists from pessimists is that the first at any age want to remain socially active. Therefore, they intend to work even after reaching retirement age. Those who do not aspire to see in life more good, but only everywhere and always notice shortcomings, most do not want to continue to work, being retired.

It is interesting that such features of character as pessimism and optimism are laid in early childhood. Their formation, according to the data of Finnish scientists, is influenced by the socio-economic situation of the family in which the child is growing up.

If a child grows in a family with a fairly high incomes, the probability that in the future he will become an optimist is much higher than that of children from low-income families, experts. And even if a person who has grown up in a poor family becomes rich, this can not help him optimistically look at life.

"Wealthy people who grew up in low-income families and independently achieved success in life are more likely to depress," say scientists. Such people are much more likely to have different mental disorders, experts say..

At the same time, people who grew up in well-to-do families remain optimistic even when everything is not going well in their lives,. Optimists are less prone to depression, they do not lose their presence of mind in difficult situations and are less susceptible to the development of mental disorders health. Sumy. Ua.