Positive thinkers are more likely to live longer than negative thinkers. This is according to a combination of studies conducted by the Boston University School of Medicine into the health of people in the USA. Researchers looked at data on the health of 70,000 female nurses and 1,500 male military veterans. They discovered that people who were optimists (people who thought positively) were more likely to live to the age of 85. They said people who were more pessimistic (those who thought negatively) were 11-15 per cent less likely to live to that age. The researchers believe that optimists (positive thinkers) found it easier to manage stress than pessimists (negative thinkers).

积极的思考者比消极的思考者更可能长寿。这是根据波士顿大学医学院(boston university school of medicine)对美国人民健康状况进行的一项综合研究得出的。研究人员查看了7万名女护士和1500名男性退伍军人的健康数据。他们发现乐观主义者(积极思考的人)更有可能活到85岁。他们说，那些更悲观的人(那些消极的人)活到那个年龄的可能性要低11%-15%。研究人员认为乐观主义者(积极的思考者)比悲观主义者(消极的思考者)更容易控制压力。

Participants in the two studies answered questions in a survey. The questions assessed their levels of optimism. The surveys matched these levels with the participants' overall level of health. They were also asked about their levels of exercise, their diets, as well as how much they smoked and drank. Professor Lewina Lee said: "Our findings speak to the possibility that raising levels of optimism may promote longevity and healthy ageing." She had some advice for pessimists who might want to live longer. The advice was to, "imagine a future in which everything has turned out well". She urged people to increase levels of optimism. She said it was healthier for people to look on the bright side of life.

两项研究的参与者在一项调查中回答了问题。这些问题评估了他们的乐观程度。调查将这些水平与参与者的整体健康水平相匹配。他们还被问及他们的运动水平，饮食，以及吸烟和饮酒的量。Lewina Lee教授说：“我们的研究结果表明，提高乐观水平可能会促进长寿和健康老龄化。”她对希望长寿的悲观主义者提出了一些建议。建议是“想象一个一切都好的未来”。她敦促人们增加乐观情绪。她说，让人们看到生活的光明面是更健康的。