John 'The
Thu, Aug-08-02, 23:56
Subject: Longevity Increased by Positive Self-Perceptions of
Aging Date: Mon, 05 Aug 2002
>NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES ABOUT AGING MAY SHORTEN YOUR LIFE BY
>AFFECTING WILL TO LIVE
> http://www.apa.org/releases/longevity.html "Positive
> Self-Perceptions of Aging May Influence Longevity More Than
> Other Health Factors, Such as Not Smoking or Exercising
>The study found that older people with more positive
>self-perceptions of aging, ... lived 7.5 years longer than
>those with less positive self-perceptions of aging.
>Levy BR, Slade MD, Kunkel SR, Kasl SV. Longevity increased by
>positive self-perceptions of aging. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.-
>gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12150-
>226&dopt=Abstract J Pers Soc Psychol. 2002 Aug;83(2):261-70.
>PMID: 12150226
I have read through the complete text of this study, which can
be downloaded as a pdf file (requires the Adobe Acrobat
Reader), for FREE.
>Read the Full Text of this paper for FREE at: http://www.apa-
>.org/journals/psp/press_releases/august_2002/psp832261.pdf
"Relatively few studies have examined positive factors, such
as beneficial beliefs, that might affect survival." This study
is one of them. It was an landmark study that proved that
prevention works! More than that, it proves that *attitude*
actually works! Further, it proves that having a healthy
*attitude* is even more effective than:
- stop smoking,
- lowering your blood pressure,
- lowering your cholesterol, and
- exercising.
"The increased life span of 7.5 years in our study is
considerable, especially when we compare our findings with
those of other longevity studies. The effect of more positive
self-perceptions of aging on survival is greater than the
physiological measures of low systolic blood pressure and
cholesterol, each of which is associated with a longer life
span of 4 years or less (Friedman et al., 1995). The survival
advantage of more positive self-perceptions of aging is also
greater than the independent contribution of lower body mass
index, no history of smoking, and a tendency to exercise; each
of these factors has been found to contribute between 1 and 3
years of added life (Fraser & Shavlik, 2001)."
I will be adding this study to my website. It is a landmark
study that proves that both *attitude* and prevention actually
works with an expected payoff of 7.5 years, *not* the three
(3) month figure that
Dr. Dean Edell likes to quote.
>The study found that older people with more positive
>self-perceptions of aging, ... lived 7.5 years longer than
>those with less positive self-perceptions of aging.
Now, what does this study mean by "positive self-perceptions
of aging?"
A healthy *attitude* is characterized by the core belief "that
the perceived benefits of one’s life outweigh the perceived
hardships." With High PSPA your mindset is towards "the
perceived benefits of life." And, your attitude is
operationally defined by these beliefs.
- “I have as much pep as I did last year.”
- “I am as happy now as I was when I was younger.”
- “As I get older, things" get better.
"Positive Self-Perceptions of Aging" is characterized by
people who view retirement as a “time to develop new interests
and ... opportunities to extend not only one’s lifetime but
also what can be called one’s personal biography.”
A poor *attitude* is characterized by the core belief that
"the perceived hardships of life become more salient than the
perceived benefits." With Low PSPA your mindset is towards
"the perceived hardships of life. And, your attitude is
operationally defined by these beliefs.
- “As you get older, you are less useful.”
- “Things keep getting worse as I get older.”
- “As I get older, things" get worse.
Negative "Self-Perceptions of Aging" is characterized by
people who "describe retirement as a period characterized
by monotony, boredom and decline, a period marking time
until death.”
In conclusion this landmark study carried two messages.
- "The discouraging one is that negative self-perceptions can
diminish life expectancy;"
- "the encouraging one is that positive self-perceptions can
prolong life expectancy.
The final determination of what is best for each Member is
both the right and responsibility of the individual Member.
--
John Gohde, Patient Empowerment Advocate
http://home.naturalhealthperspective.com/empowerment.html
Pioneering De-Medicalization by handing back the power to the
people, encouraging self care and autonomy, and resisting the
categorization of life's problems as medical.
Aging Date: Mon, 05 Aug 2002
>NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES ABOUT AGING MAY SHORTEN YOUR LIFE BY
>AFFECTING WILL TO LIVE
> http://www.apa.org/releases/longevity.html "Positive
> Self-Perceptions of Aging May Influence Longevity More Than
> Other Health Factors, Such as Not Smoking or Exercising
>The study found that older people with more positive
>self-perceptions of aging, ... lived 7.5 years longer than
>those with less positive self-perceptions of aging.
>Levy BR, Slade MD, Kunkel SR, Kasl SV. Longevity increased by
>positive self-perceptions of aging. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.-
>gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12150-
>226&dopt=Abstract J Pers Soc Psychol. 2002 Aug;83(2):261-70.
>PMID: 12150226
I have read through the complete text of this study, which can
be downloaded as a pdf file (requires the Adobe Acrobat
Reader), for FREE.
>Read the Full Text of this paper for FREE at: http://www.apa-
>.org/journals/psp/press_releases/august_2002/psp832261.pdf
"Relatively few studies have examined positive factors, such
as beneficial beliefs, that might affect survival." This study
is one of them. It was an landmark study that proved that
prevention works! More than that, it proves that *attitude*
actually works! Further, it proves that having a healthy
*attitude* is even more effective than:
- stop smoking,
- lowering your blood pressure,
- lowering your cholesterol, and
- exercising.
"The increased life span of 7.5 years in our study is
considerable, especially when we compare our findings with
those of other longevity studies. The effect of more positive
self-perceptions of aging on survival is greater than the
physiological measures of low systolic blood pressure and
cholesterol, each of which is associated with a longer life
span of 4 years or less (Friedman et al., 1995). The survival
advantage of more positive self-perceptions of aging is also
greater than the independent contribution of lower body mass
index, no history of smoking, and a tendency to exercise; each
of these factors has been found to contribute between 1 and 3
years of added life (Fraser & Shavlik, 2001)."
I will be adding this study to my website. It is a landmark
study that proves that both *attitude* and prevention actually
works with an expected payoff of 7.5 years, *not* the three
(3) month figure that
Dr. Dean Edell likes to quote.
>The study found that older people with more positive
>self-perceptions of aging, ... lived 7.5 years longer than
>those with less positive self-perceptions of aging.
Now, what does this study mean by "positive self-perceptions
of aging?"
A healthy *attitude* is characterized by the core belief "that
the perceived benefits of one’s life outweigh the perceived
hardships." With High PSPA your mindset is towards "the
perceived benefits of life." And, your attitude is
operationally defined by these beliefs.
- “I have as much pep as I did last year.”
- “I am as happy now as I was when I was younger.”
- “As I get older, things" get better.
"Positive Self-Perceptions of Aging" is characterized by
people who view retirement as a “time to develop new interests
and ... opportunities to extend not only one’s lifetime but
also what can be called one’s personal biography.”
A poor *attitude* is characterized by the core belief that
"the perceived hardships of life become more salient than the
perceived benefits." With Low PSPA your mindset is towards
"the perceived hardships of life. And, your attitude is
operationally defined by these beliefs.
- “As you get older, you are less useful.”
- “Things keep getting worse as I get older.”
- “As I get older, things" get worse.
Negative "Self-Perceptions of Aging" is characterized by
people who "describe retirement as a period characterized
by monotony, boredom and decline, a period marking time
until death.”
In conclusion this landmark study carried two messages.
- "The discouraging one is that negative self-perceptions can
diminish life expectancy;"
- "the encouraging one is that positive self-perceptions can
prolong life expectancy.
The final determination of what is best for each Member is
both the right and responsibility of the individual Member.
--
John Gohde, Patient Empowerment Advocate
http://home.naturalhealthperspective.com/empowerment.html
Pioneering De-Medicalization by handing back the power to the
people, encouraging self care and autonomy, and resisting the
categorization of life's problems as medical.