The power of positive thinking - on health

New research led by UGA psychology suggests a strong correlation between having a positive perspective about the future and enhanced health.

“There are many ways that people cope with risk to survival. One way people may thrive when conditions are risky and difficult is to adopt a positive perspective about the future,” said Brian Haas, lead author of the study and an associate professor in the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of psychology. That information may be passed down through generations.

The researchers surveyed more than 18,000 people across 68 nations. Participants were asked to rate the average quality of life of all humans on Earth now and what they think it will be 1,000 years in the future.

The researchers found that historical disease prevalence across countries was positively associated with predicting the future of humanity will be better than now. The researchers controlled for several factors such as life expectancy, economic stress and more.

People residing in countries including Angola, Vietnam and Venezuela tended to predict the future of humanity will be better than now. Americans were somewhat optimistic about the future of humanity. People in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and South Korea predicted the future of humanity to be about the same as now.

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