Researchers at Michigan State University in the United States concluded in a recent study that a happy and optimistic partner helps maintain the good health of their partners. This happiness reduces the risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s or cognitive decline as they begin to age together.
William Chopik, assistant professor of psychology and co-author of the research, states that by spending a lot of time in the company of partners, they motivate each other to exercise, take medications on time, eat a healthy diet, among other positive things. They motivate each other to walk together, eat their favorite food and have a healthier lifestyle.
When a happy couple is also healthy and optimistic, you can see the good results in each other’s lives. They see a brighter future living together. They seek between the two of them to maintain a healthy weight, be physically active and share more. In this sense, married people achieve better scores.
Being positive is contagious for a happy couple
Optimists exercise a certain leadership over their partners and in the end these end up following them in their ideas and proposals. They make the other perceive that the relationship is very positive and generates good results as a couple in the different aspects of life.
The study also showed that when couples remember the pleasant experiences they have together, the memories become more detailed and the brain retains its capacity to memorize positive things.
Positivism is inherited or trained
Chopik says that while it is true that optimism has a high inheritable component, it can also be a quality that can be learned with training. Studies prove that people can change their personalities when they get involved in activities or situations that make them change. This allows them to generate optimism.
All people in general always benefit from having an optimistic and happy partner, not only in terms of health, but also in being able to have quality of life and a better environment for the years to pass in better conditions.
Previous research also confirms that the social support that optimists seek in difficult situations, make the network of friends help them to solve situations and improve their health.
The people who are part of a person’s or a couple’s social network can also influence the health and well-being of the relationship. Optimism has a direct impact on people’s health and quality of life.
Optimists maintain healthier and more enjoyable lifestyles than people who do not see life this way. As a result, they minimize the risk factors for not only mental but also physical illnesses.
