Happy people live longer. A study published in the Proceedings of the Academy of National Sciences asked 3,853 people ages 52-79 to record levels of happiness, anxiety and other emotions at 4 specific times during 1 day. Then the participants were divided into 3 groups depending on happiness levels. Five years later 7% in the unhappiest group had died compared to 4% in the happiest group and 5% in the middle group. When age, depression, disease, health behaviors and socioeconomic factors were controlled, the happiest and medium-happy participants were 35% and 25% less likely to have died. Hmmm, remember the "i" in happiness.
Lonely people sleep more restlessly. A study published in the journal Sleep asked 95 people how often they felt lack of companionship, left out or isolated and rated them on a loneliness scale. Then for 1 week the participants wore a wrist device to bed to record body movement and sleep disruption. Each one-point increase in the loneliness scale was associated with an 8% increase in restlessness and sleep disruption even when age, sex, body mass index, sleep apnea and negative emotion factors were controlled. Although loneliness didn't influence sleep quality or daytime sleepiness, loneliness puts the bed in "bed-evil".
People with high blood pressure have more difficulty recognizing emotions - happiness, sadness, fear, anger, etc. It's a phenomenon called "emotional dampening". In a study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, 106 participants - average age 53 - were asked to evaluate emotional expressions in faces and sentences. After controlling for medications, BMI and mental state, those with high blood pressure scored lowest in the ability to recognize emotions. Scientists suspect emotional dampening is related to subtle changes in brain function. However, medication to lower blood pressure can correct the problem in time. The emotional dampening can be "dried up".
People who are physically weighed down by heavy loads like shopping bags think more seriously. It seems the brain goes from physical weight to psychological weight. In a study published in the Journal of Consumer Behavior, 100 volunteers were divided into 2 groups. One group carried bags containing about 10 pounds of water bottles. The other carried bags containing empty water bottles. Later both groups were asked questions about the importance of expressing opinions publically, reading nutrition labels and being socially connected. The volunteers carrying the heavy bags thought those subjects were much more important. Obviously, they were "heavy thinkers".
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