Stockholm/Sweden: Seeing the glass as half full might be more than just an optimistic view; it could significantly impact your longevity. New research suggests that mental resilience—the ability to bounce back from life's challenges—could reduce your risk of death by a staggering 53% and potentially add an extra decade to your life.

Published in BMJ Mental Health, this groundbreaking study examined the relationship between mental resilience and lifespan among US adults aged 50 and older. Over a period of approximately 12 years, scientists tracked 10,569 participants, assessing their mental resilience through a detailed questionnaire. This assessment measured aspects such as calmness, perseverance, self-reliance, and the perception of facing challenges alone.

Participants were classified into four groups based on their resilience scores, ranging from 0 to 12. The findings were striking those with the highest levels of mental resilience had a 53% lower risk of dying over the study period compared to those with the least resilience. In practical terms, this suggests that high resilience could extend your life by up to a decade.

Mental resilience is not a static trait; it evolves throughout life and is influenced by various factors including sex, hormones, and genetic predispositions that regulate the body's stress response. However, the study's authors from Sun Yat-sen University, China, and the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, emphasize that elements like having a sense of purpose, experiencing positive emotions, and receiving adequate social support also play crucial roles in enhancing resilience.

The research highlights that triggering positive emotions can bolster the protective effects of mental resilience, potentially mitigating the negative impacts of adversity on mental health. Essentially, strong coping skills may counteract the adverse effects of life's challenges, similar to how physical resilience can aid recovery from illness or trauma.

While the study underscores the significant benefits of mental resilience, it's not a cure-all. The researchers found that chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, or cardiovascular diseases, as well as unhealthy lifestyles, can diminish the protective link between resilience and mortality. After accounting for these factors, the reduction in death risk for the most resilient individuals was still substantial—38% compared to those with lower resilience.

In summary, while you may not have control over the adversities life throws your way, cultivating mental resilience and a positive outlook could play a crucial role in extending your life by up to a decade.