Did You Know Gratitude Might Lengthen Your Life?
By Movieguide® Contributor
It may be obvious that gratitude can improve a person’s mood, health and mental state, but did you know that gratitude even can lengthen one’s life?
In a new research study conducted by Tyler VanderWeele, the co-director of the Initiative on Health, Spirituality, and Religion at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, he found that gratitude “makes a difference and can be a very powerful practice.”
“Even on those bad days where life seems difficult, that effort is worthwhile,” VanderWeele added. “Gratitude has been one of the most widely studied activities contributing to well-being, but we couldn’t find a single prior study that looked at its effects on mortality and longevity, much to our surprise.”
READ MORE: HOW TO TEACH AND PRACTICE GRATITUDE WITH YOUR KIDS
According to Harvard Health, “In 2016, participants completed a six-item gratitude questionnaire in which they ranked their agreement with statements such as, ‘I have so much in life to be thankful for,’ and ‘If I had to list everything I felt grateful for, it would be a very long list.'”
“Four years later, researchers combed through participants’ medical records to determine who had died,” the outlet continued. “There were 4,608 deaths from all causes, as well as from specific causes such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory diseases, neurodegenerative disease, infection, and injury. Deaths from cardiovascular disease — a top killer of women and men in the United States — were the most common cause.”
So, what did the research find? People who practiced gratitude had a “9% lower risk of dying over the following four years than participants who scored in the bottom third.”
“A 9% reduction in mortality risk is meaningful, but not huge,” VanderWeele explained. “But what’s remarkable about gratitude is that just about anyone can practice it. Anyone can recognize what’s around them and express thanks to others for what’s good in their life.”
There is no specific reason why gratitude lowers one’s risk of death, but VanderWeele thinks it is because of several key factors.
“We know that gratitude makes people feel happier. That in itself has a small effect on mortality risk,” he said. “Practicing gratitude may also make someone a bit more motivated to take care of their health. Maybe they’re more likely to show up for medical appointments or exercise.”
In fact, studies found that gratitude leads “to decreased inflammation and lower blood pressure. Writing one letter of appreciation decreased hopelessness in 88 percent of suicidal patients and increased optimism in 94 percent.”
“It may also help with relationships and social support, which we know contribute to health,” he added.
Dr. Emiliana Simon-Thomas, science director of the Greater Good Science Center, suggested three ways to start incorporating more gratitiude into your life:
- “First, keep a gratitude journal where you can write a few things you are grateful for, ‘whether it’s a washing machine in your home, or electric light, or the opportunity to go on a camping trip with friends — the list could go on.'”
- Write letters “to others who have had a positive impact on your life; the sense of gratitude is even more pronounced when those letters are delivered to the other person.”
- “Be more specific when giving out thanks.”
This Thanksgiving, consider starting a new gratitude habit and see how it will change your life.
READ MORE: GRATITUDE HELPS YOU FLOURISH — HERE’S HOW
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