Experiencing greater gratitude was linked with lower risk of death over three years in nearly 50,000 older women, suggesting it may support healthier ageing and longer life.
October 2024 – JAMA Psychiatry
Key takeaways
Gratitude linked to longer life: Older women who reported higher levels of gratitude had a 9% lower risk of death over a three-year period compared to those with lower gratitude. This association remained even after adjusting for age, physical health, lifestyle behaviours, cognitive function, depressive symptoms, and levels of optimism, highlighting gratitude’s independent role in supporting healthy ageing
Heart health benefits observed: Women in the highest gratitude group were 15% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease than those in the lowest group. Gratitude may encourage heart-healthy behaviours and reduce physiological stress, both of which are known to impact cardiovascular outcomes, suggesting a potential protective effect on the heart in later life
Independent of health and lifestyle: Even after excluding participants with chronic illnesses, recent depression, or early death in the follow-up period, the inverse association between gratitude and mortality persisted. This strengthens the case that gratitude itself, beyond health status or mental wellbeing, may be a valuable psychological resource linked with longevity
Low-cost potential for wellbeing: Practices that enhance gratitude, such as journaling or reflecting on positive experiences, are low-cost and easy to implement. These interventions offer a promising, non-invasive way to foster emotional resilience, improve outlook, and potentially contribute to better health outcomes and longer life in ageing populations
Read the article at: Chen, Ying, et al. “Gratitude and Mortality Among Older US Female Nurses.” JAMA Psychiatry, vol. 81, no. 10, 2024, pp. 1030–1038. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.1687.
