Gratitude and health

A very interesting study just published in JAMA Psychiatry on the effects of emotions such as gratitude on physical health and longevity in particular.

Gratitude is a potentially modifiable psychological factor that can improve health and well-being. However, the association between gratitude and mortality had not yet been studied.

This prospective cohort study investigated the links between gratitude and all-cause mortality in senior citizens, in this case retired former nurses in a large study called “The Nurse Study”, using a 6-item questionnaire, a validated and widely-used measure of a person's tendency to feel gratitude.

A higher level of gratitude at baseline was associated with a lower risk of mortality.

These models were adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics, social participation, physical health, lifestyle factors, cognitive function and mental health.

This study provides the first empirical evidence to suggest that experiencing gratitude is associated with increased longevity, particularly in the elderly.

Chen Y, Okereke OI, Kim ES, Tiemeier H, Kubzansky LD, VanderWeele TJ. Gratitude and Mortality Among Older US Female Nurses. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online July 03, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.1687