Emotional strength halves the risk of death: learn the benefits of strong mental health

If you are mentally strong, you may live longer, a new study shows, proving that good mental health can also improve your physical health. Experts from China’s Sun Yat-Sen University found that emotional resilience can halve the risk of premature death.

According to researchers, those who are able to deal with life’s blows and cope well with difficult times or the loss of loved ones tend to be healthier in all physical parameters.

Good mental health is beneficial in the long term

Emotional strength helps prevent mental health problems such as depression, loneliness and anxiety, which are known to shorten life expectancy. “Positive emotions can mitigate the negative impact of accumulated adversity on people’s mental health,” said study author Dr. Yiqiang Zhan.

The research, published in the journal BMJ Mental Healthused data from 10,569 people in the United States over the age of 50. A questionnaire was used to assess the psychological resilience of men and women and then compared it to their physical health.

The toughest people are more than 50 percent likely to outperform the young.

According to the researchers, a significant association was observed and after analysing the data, those with higher scores lived longer. The least resilient people were 53 per cent less likely to survive another ten years than the most resilient. According to Dr Zhan, a strong mindset reduces the self-assessed impact of disability or illness on people’s lives and therefore delays premature ageing.

How does good mental health improve your life?

Various studies have shown that there is a link between good mental health and a longer life. Good mental health can improve your life in many ways, including:

Helps deal with stress

If you are strong and resilient, you can easily cope with life’s stresses, such as changes, fears and losses.

Building lasting relationships

Good mental health helps you form and maintain healthy relationships with others.

Learning and working well

Good mental health helps you learn, work well and develop your abilities to the fullest.

It makes you productive

People with good mental health are more likely to be productive and work more efficiently.

Contributing to the community

Mental health helps you make meaningful contributions to your community and thrive.

Improve the quality of life

Strong and healthy mental health helps improve the quality of your life

Be physically healthy

Good mental health helps you to be physically healthy

Is mental strength genetic??

According to Dr. Zhan, mental toughness can be affected by people’s gender, genetics, and hormones, and can change over time depending on circumstances. “Several factors, such as meaning in life, positive emotions, self-rated health, and satisfaction with social support, are potential influences on psychological resilience,” he said.

“Our findings underscore the potential efficacy of promoting resilience.”

Other lifestyle habits that help you live longer

Some lifestyle habits that will help you live longer include:

Exercise

Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week, including walking, dancing, yoga, or running.

Eat well

Eat a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Maintain a healthy weight

A body mass index (BMI) of less than 25 is considered healthy. Try to balance diet and exercise to overcome overweight and obesity.

Quit smoking and drinking

Quitting smoking and drinking reduces your risk of lung cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and many other diseases, including kidney and heart problems, thereby extending your life expectancy.

Get enough sleep

The CDC recommends at least seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.