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Many studies show that if you have an easy character, high intelligence and successfully found the meaning of life, your chances of skating at eighty and traveling across Africa at ninety are much higher than those of your friend whiners.
Forty years ago, a respectable Connecticut nursing home, Arden House, became a research base for one of the most inspiring experiments of the 20th century. Psychologists Judit Rodin and Helen Langer tested a bold hypothesis: Is it true that feeling in control of your life is a key to good health and longevity?
“It's important that you make your life at Arden House comfortable,” said the administrator at the general meeting of the residents of the fourth floor. - If you want to rearrange the furniture in your room, inform the staff about it, they will help you. You can choose a houseplant, but you have to take care of it yourself. On Thursday and Friday we show a movie, you have to decide if you want to watch it and on what day."
“We are doing a lot to make your life at Arden House comfortable,” the same employee reported to the inhabitants of the second floor. - We have furnished your rooms in the best possible way. In addition, we give each of you a plant, you do not need to take care of it, it will be watered by a nurse. On Thursday and Friday we show a movie, we will let you know who will watch it on what day. "
Apart from these little things, the life of the elderly from the fourth and second floors was practically the same. Imagine the amazement of the Arden House staff when, after just three weeks, the researchers recorded serious differences between the groups. People who were encouraged to take control of their own lives began to see themselves as more active and happier. Those who did not have to solve any problems, because at any second the caring staff came to the rescue, on the contrary, became more passive and unhappy. Questionnaires filled with nurses (different on each floor and not aware of the essence of the experiment) showed that the residents of the fourth floor improved their health, and, unlike the residents of the second floor, they began to devote more time to communicating with neighbors, relatives and friends.
For eighteen months of the experiment, the health condition worsened in representatives of both groups - after all, we are talking about very old people. Nevertheless, during this time, 13 out of 44 residents of the second floor and 7 out of 47 residents of the fourth floor died of old age. The authors assessed this result as statistically significant and even expressed it as a percentage, from which the picture became even more impressive: 15% of mortality among those who control their lives and 30% among those who do not.
It turns out that if a person just has a flower that he looks after, this circumstance halves the likelihood of death in the next year and a half. How strong should the effect be for older people immersed in interesting work?
Willpower is the key to longevity?
In 1800, the average life expectancy in rich countries was 40 years, and in poor countries - only 25. Few managed to live to old age, mostly people died from infections. Today people in developed countries live on average 80 years, and in the third world - 50. At the same time, if you look at the leading causes of death, it turns out that in the third world people still die from diarrhea, respiratory infections , AIDS. In developed countries, where modern medicines are available, all these problems can be kept under control. People die from strokes, coronary heart disease, lung cancer, diseases that are heavily dependent on lifestyle. Researchers call the current situation "the third epidemiological revolution." During the first epidemiological revolution, doctors learned how to fight infections, the second helped keep chronic diseases such as diabetes under control. The main task today is to fight senile diseases, and here the salvation of drowning people depends to a great extent on the drowning people themselves. Long live those who have the willpower to quit smoking, avoid overusing high-calorie foods, and ride a bike instead of watching TV while lying on the couch.
Finding Ikigaya
Researchers looking for a link between longevity and psychological well-being often use the Japanese term ikigai in their work. He does not have a generally accepted translation into Russian or English. Ikigai is both "the meaning of life" and "the purpose of life" and "something for which a person gets out of bed in the morning." If you use metaphors from Western culture, then ikigai is what you will mention in your conversation with Saint Peter to show him that you wisely disposed of your fate and you can safely be admitted to heaven.
The conversation at the gates of paradise, however, will not take place soon. In 2008, a group of Japanese scientists published the results of a seven-year study in which more than 40,000 elderly people participated. All subjects were asked if ikigai existed in their lives. 25,596 people said yes. The rest were unsure, or admitted that they still hadn't got ikigai. It turned out that among those who did not have a meaning in life, during the observation period, one and a half times more people died than among those who had a meaning in life. The risk of death from cardiovascular diseases, pneumonia, as well as from external causes, including suicide, turned out to be especially high. The authors note that, among people deprived of ikigaya, from the very beginning the share of unemployed, unmarried, poorly educated and sedentary was higher.
If only there was no war
In 1932, a large-scale study of the IQ level of local schoolchildren was carried out in Scotland. The results were preserved in the archives, and in 2001, scientists managed to find 2,230 participants in this survey to see how their fate developed. It turned out that every additional 15 IQ points increase a person's chances of being alive by the age of 76 by 21%. The effect was more pronounced for women than for men, but the authors note that this is most likely due to the influence of the Second World War, in which the probability of dying was higher just for those who demonstrated a high level of intelligence in childhood ... Why do smart people live longer? On the one hand, they tend to take care of their health - they are more successful in quitting smoking, do not abuse alcohol, and are less likely to get injured than people with low IQs.
The main thing is not to worry.
Life expectancy in Japan today is 80.5 years for men and 86.8 years for women, more than any other country in the world. This is partly due to advanced health care, partly with the successful genetic combinations common among the Japanese, partly with their traditional diet - low in calories and rich in seafood. However, the cultural differences between East and West should not be underestimated. While our people strive to maintain youth, the Confucian ethic prevalent in Japan and China implies not only respect for the elderly, but also a deep admiration for them, bordering on envy. Russian philologist-Sinologist Vasily Alekseev cites in his diary, written during a trip to China in 1907, the following everyday sketch:
In the morning an old woman comes to chat. The boatman gallantly asks how old she is: "It must be eighty soon!" - The old woman, very flattered, modestly declares that she is only fifty-six. - “Well, good luck to you, old woman! You look, she-she, at all eighty!"
Modern Japan in this respect is not so different from China a century ago. As Craig Willcox, who researches the reasons for the extraordinary longevity of the inhabitants of the island of Okinawa, notes, the Japanese society and government are making serious efforts to ensure that the deep old feel needed and respected. They are encouraged to share their experience with young people, learn new hobbies, and participate in volunteer projects. All this contributes to the feeling of happiness - and this, in turn, prolongs life.
Many studies show that centenarians differ in temperament from ordinary people. For example, psychological testing of 70 Tokyo residents who have crossed the 100-year milestone showed that a characteristic feature of centenarians is openness to new experience. They readily learn new ideas, question authority, value diversity. Scientists also noted that long-lived women tend to be extroverts and spend a lot of time interacting with family and friends. In addition, they are characterized by conscientiousness, the desire to behave prudently and plan their actions in advance.
Only men need marriage!
Demographers know that in any age group, the mortality rate among single men is noticeably higher than among married men. At a young age, this is due to risky behavior: while a thirty-year-old bachelor cuts on a motorcycle and drinks in dubious clubs, his married peer carefully drives a credit minivan for vegetables to the market. For mature men, wives regularly save their lives, driving them to the doctor for examination at every complaint about which the person himself thinks "yes, this nonsense will pass!" Interestingly, for women, this pattern is much less pronounced: it seems to be good to be married, but in prolonging life this is clearly not the main thing.
How it works?
Openness to new experience, sociability, prudence, happiness. All this is good, but how can they affect health and longevity? There seem to be two main reasons.
On the one hand, psychologically well-off people are simply less inclined to neglect their health. If an older person feels in demand and genuinely enjoys his life, he is more likely to go to the doctor on time, when he has something sick, will eat right and spend time outdoors.
However, there is also a more direct link between mental health and health. We are talking about the influence of stress hormones - adrenaline and cortisol. Numerous studies have shown that psychological stress, especially chronic stress, creates a serious burden on the heart and blood vessels; disrupts the functioning of the immune system, including its ability to fight the appearance of malignant tumors; correlates with a decrease in clotho protein synthesis, which, in turn, is actively studied due to its hypothetical ability to prolong life.
Research is mainly carried out with the participation of people undergoing really severe stress - for example, associated with caring for seriously ill relatives. Nevertheless, the accumulated knowledge suggests that the habit of worrying about bullshit is likely to have a negative impact on health as well. All things being equal, an old man who is seriously worried and angry about how his teenage great-granddaughter dresses foolishly is likely to live less than his neighbor, who laughs and takes grinders and a leather jacket from his great-granddaughter to try on and spin in them in front of the mirror.
Forty years ago, a respectable Connecticut nursing home, Arden House, became a research base for one of the most inspiring experiments of the 20th century. Psychologists Judit Rodin and Helen Langer tested a bold hypothesis: Is it true that feeling in control of your life is a key to good health and longevity?
“It's important that you make your life at Arden House comfortable,” said the administrator at the general meeting of the residents of the fourth floor. - If you want to rearrange the furniture in your room, inform the staff about it, they will help you. You can choose a houseplant, but you have to take care of it yourself. On Thursday and Friday we show a movie, you have to decide if you want to watch it and on what day."
“We are doing a lot to make your life at Arden House comfortable,” the same employee reported to the inhabitants of the second floor. - We have furnished your rooms in the best possible way. In addition, we give each of you a plant, you do not need to take care of it, it will be watered by a nurse. On Thursday and Friday we show a movie, we will let you know who will watch it on what day. "
Apart from these little things, the life of the elderly from the fourth and second floors was practically the same. Imagine the amazement of the Arden House staff when, after just three weeks, the researchers recorded serious differences between the groups. People who were encouraged to take control of their own lives began to see themselves as more active and happier. Those who did not have to solve any problems, because at any second the caring staff came to the rescue, on the contrary, became more passive and unhappy. Questionnaires filled with nurses (different on each floor and not aware of the essence of the experiment) showed that the residents of the fourth floor improved their health, and, unlike the residents of the second floor, they began to devote more time to communicating with neighbors, relatives and friends.
For eighteen months of the experiment, the health condition worsened in representatives of both groups - after all, we are talking about very old people. Nevertheless, during this time, 13 out of 44 residents of the second floor and 7 out of 47 residents of the fourth floor died of old age. The authors assessed this result as statistically significant and even expressed it as a percentage, from which the picture became even more impressive: 15% of mortality among those who control their lives and 30% among those who do not.
It turns out that if a person just has a flower that he looks after, this circumstance halves the likelihood of death in the next year and a half. How strong should the effect be for older people immersed in interesting work?
Willpower is the key to longevity?
In 1800, the average life expectancy in rich countries was 40 years, and in poor countries - only 25. Few managed to live to old age, mostly people died from infections. Today people in developed countries live on average 80 years, and in the third world - 50. At the same time, if you look at the leading causes of death, it turns out that in the third world people still die from diarrhea, respiratory infections , AIDS. In developed countries, where modern medicines are available, all these problems can be kept under control. People die from strokes, coronary heart disease, lung cancer, diseases that are heavily dependent on lifestyle. Researchers call the current situation "the third epidemiological revolution." During the first epidemiological revolution, doctors learned how to fight infections, the second helped keep chronic diseases such as diabetes under control. The main task today is to fight senile diseases, and here the salvation of drowning people depends to a great extent on the drowning people themselves. Long live those who have the willpower to quit smoking, avoid overusing high-calorie foods, and ride a bike instead of watching TV while lying on the couch.
Finding Ikigaya
Researchers looking for a link between longevity and psychological well-being often use the Japanese term ikigai in their work. He does not have a generally accepted translation into Russian or English. Ikigai is both "the meaning of life" and "the purpose of life" and "something for which a person gets out of bed in the morning." If you use metaphors from Western culture, then ikigai is what you will mention in your conversation with Saint Peter to show him that you wisely disposed of your fate and you can safely be admitted to heaven.
The conversation at the gates of paradise, however, will not take place soon. In 2008, a group of Japanese scientists published the results of a seven-year study in which more than 40,000 elderly people participated. All subjects were asked if ikigai existed in their lives. 25,596 people said yes. The rest were unsure, or admitted that they still hadn't got ikigai. It turned out that among those who did not have a meaning in life, during the observation period, one and a half times more people died than among those who had a meaning in life. The risk of death from cardiovascular diseases, pneumonia, as well as from external causes, including suicide, turned out to be especially high. The authors note that, among people deprived of ikigaya, from the very beginning the share of unemployed, unmarried, poorly educated and sedentary was higher.
If only there was no war
In 1932, a large-scale study of the IQ level of local schoolchildren was carried out in Scotland. The results were preserved in the archives, and in 2001, scientists managed to find 2,230 participants in this survey to see how their fate developed. It turned out that every additional 15 IQ points increase a person's chances of being alive by the age of 76 by 21%. The effect was more pronounced for women than for men, but the authors note that this is most likely due to the influence of the Second World War, in which the probability of dying was higher just for those who demonstrated a high level of intelligence in childhood ... Why do smart people live longer? On the one hand, they tend to take care of their health - they are more successful in quitting smoking, do not abuse alcohol, and are less likely to get injured than people with low IQs.
The main thing is not to worry.
Life expectancy in Japan today is 80.5 years for men and 86.8 years for women, more than any other country in the world. This is partly due to advanced health care, partly with the successful genetic combinations common among the Japanese, partly with their traditional diet - low in calories and rich in seafood. However, the cultural differences between East and West should not be underestimated. While our people strive to maintain youth, the Confucian ethic prevalent in Japan and China implies not only respect for the elderly, but also a deep admiration for them, bordering on envy. Russian philologist-Sinologist Vasily Alekseev cites in his diary, written during a trip to China in 1907, the following everyday sketch:
In the morning an old woman comes to chat. The boatman gallantly asks how old she is: "It must be eighty soon!" - The old woman, very flattered, modestly declares that she is only fifty-six. - “Well, good luck to you, old woman! You look, she-she, at all eighty!"
Modern Japan in this respect is not so different from China a century ago. As Craig Willcox, who researches the reasons for the extraordinary longevity of the inhabitants of the island of Okinawa, notes, the Japanese society and government are making serious efforts to ensure that the deep old feel needed and respected. They are encouraged to share their experience with young people, learn new hobbies, and participate in volunteer projects. All this contributes to the feeling of happiness - and this, in turn, prolongs life.
Many studies show that centenarians differ in temperament from ordinary people. For example, psychological testing of 70 Tokyo residents who have crossed the 100-year milestone showed that a characteristic feature of centenarians is openness to new experience. They readily learn new ideas, question authority, value diversity. Scientists also noted that long-lived women tend to be extroverts and spend a lot of time interacting with family and friends. In addition, they are characterized by conscientiousness, the desire to behave prudently and plan their actions in advance.
Only men need marriage!
Demographers know that in any age group, the mortality rate among single men is noticeably higher than among married men. At a young age, this is due to risky behavior: while a thirty-year-old bachelor cuts on a motorcycle and drinks in dubious clubs, his married peer carefully drives a credit minivan for vegetables to the market. For mature men, wives regularly save their lives, driving them to the doctor for examination at every complaint about which the person himself thinks "yes, this nonsense will pass!" Interestingly, for women, this pattern is much less pronounced: it seems to be good to be married, but in prolonging life this is clearly not the main thing.
How it works?
Openness to new experience, sociability, prudence, happiness. All this is good, but how can they affect health and longevity? There seem to be two main reasons.
On the one hand, psychologically well-off people are simply less inclined to neglect their health. If an older person feels in demand and genuinely enjoys his life, he is more likely to go to the doctor on time, when he has something sick, will eat right and spend time outdoors.
However, there is also a more direct link between mental health and health. We are talking about the influence of stress hormones - adrenaline and cortisol. Numerous studies have shown that psychological stress, especially chronic stress, creates a serious burden on the heart and blood vessels; disrupts the functioning of the immune system, including its ability to fight the appearance of malignant tumors; correlates with a decrease in clotho protein synthesis, which, in turn, is actively studied due to its hypothetical ability to prolong life.
Research is mainly carried out with the participation of people undergoing really severe stress - for example, associated with caring for seriously ill relatives. Nevertheless, the accumulated knowledge suggests that the habit of worrying about bullshit is likely to have a negative impact on health as well. All things being equal, an old man who is seriously worried and angry about how his teenage great-granddaughter dresses foolishly is likely to live less than his neighbor, who laughs and takes grinders and a leather jacket from his great-granddaughter to try on and spin in them in front of the mirror.
