What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether positive emotional expression in early-life autobiographical writings predicts survival and mortality risk six decades later.

January 1, 2001Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Positive emotions in early life and longevity: Findings from the nun study.

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Authors

DDDeborah D. DannerUniversity of Kentucky DSDavid A. SnowdonLa Trobe University WFWallace V. FriesenUniversity of California, San Francisco

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Implication

Longitudinal cohort study demonstrates reduced late-life mortality in women with high early-life positive emotional expression, suggesting long-term physiological benefits of positive affect.

Key Points

To determine whether positive emotional expression in early-life autobiographical writings predicts survival and mortality risk six decades later.
Analyzed handwritten autobiographies written at a mean age of 22 years by Catholic nuns (N=180).
Scored writings for emotional content, categorized participants into quartile rankings, and tracked survival between ages 75 and 95.
A strong inverse association occurred between positive emotional content in early-life writings and late-life mortality risk (p < .001).
Mortality risk showed a stepwise decline across increasing quartiles of positive emotion, producing a 2.5-fold difference in late-life mortality between the highest and lowest quartiles.

Cite This Study

Danner et al. (2001) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a01a68efdf359f3d7d8ae90 https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.80.5.804

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Implication

Longitudinal cohort study demonstrates reduced late-life mortality in women with high early-life positive emotional expression, suggesting long-term physiological benefits of positive affect.

Positive emotions in early life and longevity: Findings from the nun study.

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Positive emotions in early life and longevity: Findings from the nun study.

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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