People who are happy and have a positive outlook live longer, according to scientists.
A five year study of almost 4,000 52 to 79-year-olds revealed that the those who reported higher levels of contentment ( ) had a 35 per cent lower risk of premature death.
It is now hoped the findings from the University College of London will further promote 'positive well-being' as a remedy for stress and ill health.
Participants involved in the study were asked to rate their feelings of happiness or anxiety four times over the course of a day.
The number of deaths was then recorded over a five-year period.
After taking into account age, gender, depression, certain diseases and health-related behaviours scientists found those who reported feeling happiest had a 35 per cent reduced risk of dying early compared with those who reported feeling least happy.
Lead researcher Professor Andrew Steptoe said: 'The present findings provide further reason to target the positive well-being of older people.'
The long-term study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, backs previous scientific claims that a 'glass half full' approach can have various health benefits.
In March scientists from the University of Illinois found positive moods reduced stress-related hormones and strengthened the immune system.
In a review of 160 animal and human studies Prof Ed Diener and his team concluded that happiness 'contributes to both longevity and better health among healthy populations.'
Meanwhile anxiety, depression, and pessimism were linked to higher rates of disease and a shorter lifespan.
In recent years positive psychology has received growing interest and in 2006 cognitive-behavioral therapy - a form of psychotherapy that promotes happiness - was made available to patients.
Despite the recent findings Professor Steptoe said that there is still no proof feeling happier extends life-span and instead stressed the importance of emotional well-being among older people.
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CLIMATE CREATES HISTORY
Climate is one of the most important environment-shaping factors. Not only does climate determine landscape and its features, and shape the animal and plant kingdom, but it also defines the possibilities for the development of agriculture, demography, and migrations of entire peoples. Its global changes have been frequently accompanied by rises and falls of ethnoses, states, and civilisations.
Among the numerous theories seeking to account for mankinds activity by climate changes, there is one which postulates that colder periods mobilized mans strength, habits, and skills to overcome unfavourable climate conditions. It argues that such periods usually coincide with the epochs of the rise and flourishing of empires, the centralization of power, and breakthroughs in technology and science. Conversely, warmer periods were conducive to peoples moral and psychological relaxation, stagnation of technology, and the weakening and disintegration of state power mechanisms.
It is under cold climatic conditions that civilisations arose. The colder climate of 4,000 years B.C. stirred up state-building processes in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and India. Statehood helped ancient societies better cope with elements and natural calamities by fostering the construction of complex irrigation systems in the valleys of great rivers and the creation of supply chains. Consequently, such states were better off than scattered, stateless tribes.
Extreme climatic conditions are known to have caused the migrations of entire peoples who were forced to leave their habitats due to poor harvest and famine and look for resources in order to survive. Historians registered 15 great migrations of tribes and peoples between 3100 and 500 B.C., caused by deteriorating climate conditions. Of these, 13 migrations have been attributed to global cooling and two to global warming.
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