Practice gratitude for better health

Recent research has uncovered an exciting link between practicing gratitude and longevity! A study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that women with high gratitude scores had a 9% lower risk of all-cause mortality. This large-scale, longitudinal study included nearly 50,000 female nurses with an average age of 79 and followed participants for about 3 years.
 
Gratitude appeared especially protective against cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of death worldwide. They found that benefits of gratitude persisted even after accounting for various health, lifestyle, and social factors and results remained consistent even when researchers excluded participants who died within the first year of follow-up, those with major chronic diseases at baseline, or those with depression or using antidepressants. This suggests that the protective effect of gratitude is not simply due to healthier people feeling more grateful, but that gratitude itself may contribute to better health outcomes. By cultivating gratitude, we may be tapping into a powerful tool for extending our lifespan and improving our overall health.