March 1, 2023

The Singapore Chinese Health study, a long-term interdisciplinary study involving researchers from NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences following about a thousand Singaporean Chinese participants for more than two decades, has found that positive psychological states can be correlated with better longevity. Findings from this study were published academically in the article ‘Social Disconnection and Living Arrangements among Older Adults: The Singapore Chinese Health Study’ (International Journal of Experimental, Clinical, Behavioural and Technological Gerontology, 2022). It also received media attention from The Straits Times, in ‘Good Mental Health Can Improve Longevity: Local Study’ (February 2023).

The study tracked the “objective” (or physiological) well-being of participants, as well as more “subjective” (or socio-psychological) aspects of well-being. These social aspects include attitudes towards and satisfaction with life, as well as social engagement.

Although physically healthy participants had better longevity statistics compared to their physically frail counterparts, the study showed that psychological well-being also significantly impacts health and longevity outcomes. Particularly, mentally optimistic seniors who are fit tended to have higher odds of survival compared to physically fit and mentally neutral seniors. Similarly, mentally optimistic seniors with frail physiques tended to have better chances of survival than dejected and frail seniors.

Interestingly, positive and neutral mental states are also correlated with notions of financial adequacy and weekly exercise. Commenting on the implications of the study, Associate Professor Feng Qiushi (NUS Sociology and Anthropology) indicated that families could be important in building a “spirit of resilience in seniors”, allowing them to live longer and more fulfilling lives.

Read the Straits Times article here: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/good-mental-health-can-improve-longevity-local-study

Read the academic article published in International Journal of Experimental, Clinical, Behavioural and Technological Gerontology here: https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/516626