Researchers believe they may have
unlocked the secret to a longer life - a sense of meaning and purpose.
A new study by University College
London studied people with an average age of 65 and found that those who
enjoyed "wellbeing" were likely to live longer. Continue...
It defined the key components of
wellbeing as a sense of control, a feeling that what you are doing is
worthwhile, and a sense of purpose in life.
Researchers tracked the sample
group for eight-and-a-half years after the age of 65 and found that those at
the upper end of the "wellbeing scale" were 30% less likely to die
during that period.
Professor Andrew Steptoe, director
of the UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, who led the study, told
Sky News: "We have previously found that happiness is associated with a
lower risk of death.
"These analyses show that the
meaningfulness and sense of purpose that older people have in their lives are
also related to survival.
"We cannot be sure that higher
wellbeing necessarily causes lower risk of death, since the relationship may
not be causal."
He added: "But the findings
raise the intriguing possibility that increasing wellbeing could help to
improve physical health.
"There are several biological
mechanisms that may link wellbeing to improved health, for example through
hormonal changes or reduced blood pressure.
"Further research is now
needed to see if such changes might contribute to the links between wellbeing
and life expectancy in older people."
Sky News visited the Royal Yacht
Britannia in Edinburgh
Onboard, two visitors' assistants
endorsed the study findings.
George Smith, 63, said: "For
me, I'm meeting a lot of new people and it keeps my mind interested in other people."
Martha Dryburgh, 65, said: "I
tend to maybe sit in the house and I might sit for a while then think 'I don't
feel good about sitting'.
"So psychologically, for me, I
can understand why they say that (a purpose) does make you feel better."
Source: Sky News
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