"Australian researcher Robyn Richmond’s study confirms personality traits may help us more than supplements and puzzles. Low neuroticism, anger and hostility; low impulsivity; high extraversion or social connectedness; high openness; high conscientiousness; low depression – these are the keys to ripe old age, her findings suggest. Of the 190 centenarians she’s interviewed, 54 per cent live in nursing homes; 85 per cent are widowed; 71 per cent enjoy family contact at least once a week; 43 per cent have no tertiary qualifications; and 88 per cent rely on government pensions. Overall their health is good. None reported risky alcohol use, and while 28 per cent were former smokers, only two do so now. Levels of anxiety and depression among the group were well below average.
Richmond credits environmental factors - including biological, psychosocial and personality - with a 70 to 80 per cent influence on longevity, leaving genetics responsible for 20 to 30 per cent. “High neuroticism leads to behaviours that accelerate ageing,” she says. “Neurotic behaviour disturbs our heartbeat and immune function, and leads to high incidence of coronary heart disease.” It is not that this generation has avoided stress. “We know they’ve lived through difficult times, two world wars and a depression, but they have responded to these difficulties well. They rate highly on trust and competence; they are dependable, easygoing, able to defer short-term gratifications such as smoking and drinking, and they respond well to advice.”
This is one more reason why we should be more positive! So the next time shit happens, I'll think about ripe old age and perhaps see this "shit" not as a problem, but as a challenge or an opportunity for personal development!
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