The Stoics thought it was essential for a more joyful existence, but researchers now consider mental resilience might also be crucial for a prolonged lifespan.

According to researchers, the capability to persist through hardships and maintain a composed and stoic attitude during challenging periods reduces the likelihood of death in the following ten years by half.

Earlier, resilience had demonstrated an ability to ward off diseases, manage chronic conditions effectively, and aid in recovering from traumatic experiences; however, its potential role in preventing mortality remained unclear.

To find out,
researchers
At Guangdong University of Technology in Shenzhen, China, they immersed themselves in the study of
health
details of over 10,000 Americans who have enrolled in the US Health and Retirement Study.

Everyone was above 50 years old and had completed a survey.
mental health
They received scores based on attributes such as persistence, composure, having clear goals, independence, and understanding that some challenges must be confronted solo.

‘Almost linear’

Over the subsequent ten years, 3,489 of the participants passed away, and researchers discovered an ‘almost linear’ relationship between mental resilience and mortality risk.

Only 61 percent of individuals who ranked in the lowest quartile for resilience managed to survive, whereas 84 percent from the highest quartile did so.

The analysis indicated that individuals in the top quartile had a 53 percent lower likelihood of dying within the following decade compared to those in the bottom quartile.

The correlation persisted even when accounting for factors such as marital status, gender, ethnicity, and body mass index (BMI) — all of which can affect life expectancy. However, this connection weakened to 46 percent and 38 percent once an unhealthful lifestyle was taken into consideration.

In the journal BMJ Mental Health, the writers stated: “Psychological resilience refers to an individual’s ability to handle and adjust well when faced with difficult life situations and occurrences.”

Facing adversities, including poverty or major occurrences like losing one’s job or experiencing bereavement, typically causes disturbances in mental well-being.

Nevertheless, people vary in their capacity to surmount and adjust to challenges, as some display resilience whereas others find it difficult.

This research stands out as it identifies a statistically significant connection between psychological resilience and overall death rates within the broader community, maintaining this link even when various influencing elements are considered.

Social support

The core principle of Stoicism, established by Zeno of Citium in 301 BC, revolved around the significance of being resilient and staying balanced when confronted with challenges.

Zeno used to be a prosperous entrepreneur until the vessel he was traveling on, which departed from Cyprus, perished in a tempest. This disaster cost him his wealth accumulated through purple dye made from snails and left him destitute on the pavements of Athens.

Rather than getting disheartened, he established a school promoting the idea that it’s futile to worry about circumstances beyond our control. This philosophy has seen renewed popularity in recent times.

The researchers indicated that the new discoveries imply that programs designed to enhance mental toughness via community backing might significantly influence overall mortality rates in the population.

Research from recent years indicates that resilience has a strong connection with
stress
and the immune response.

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