The Nun Study
The Nun Study, conducted by Danner, Snowdon, and Friesen (2001) from the University of Kentucky, is formally titled “Positive Emotions in Early Life and Longevity: Findings from the Nun Study.” This landmark study explored the relationship between positive emotional expression in early life and longevity, using a unique sample of 180 Catholic nuns.
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Why Nuns?
Nuns were an ideal group for this study because they shared many lifestyle factors that could influence health outcomes.
By controlling or minimizing these variables, researchers could focus more effectively on emotional expression as a key factor.
Nuns don’t smoke or drink excessively, they live in similar community environments, and they have similar reproductive histories since they are childless. Their diets are typically uniform and simple, which reduces dietary variability as a potential confound. These controls made nuns an exemplary group to isolate the impact of psychological factors on longevity (Snowdon et al., 2001).
The Link Between Emotions and Health
Previous research has long suggested that emotions significantly impact physical health. Negative emotions, such as chronic stress or depression, can suppress immune system function and increase vulnerability to disease (Salovey et al., 2000).
Positive emotions, by contrast, have been found to enhance immune responses and promote overall physiological well-being, potentially reducing disease risk (Fredrickson, 2001).
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Presence of Positive Emotions in the Nun Study
Emotional expressiveness, whether positive or negative, tends to remain consistent throughout a person’s lifetime, making early indicators of emotional temperament useful for predicting long-term outcomes like longevity.
The Link Between Temperament and Health
Temperament, including whether a person has a generally cheerful or negative outlook, influences how well they manage stress and face life’s challenges. Individuals with positive temperaments generally cope better with adversity, which is another factor that may contribute to living longer (Segerstrom, 2006).
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Longevity, of course, is influenced by a range of factors—heredity, gender, socioeconomic status, nutrition, medical care, and social support. However, this study specifically highlighted the important role that personality traits and emotional patterns play in determining health outcomes later in life (Danner et al., 2001).
The Nun Study Methodology
As part of the Nun Study, the nuns were asked to write short autobiographical sketches as part of their religious vows in the 1930s and 1940s, when they were around 22 years old. These autobiographies provided a window into their emotional lives at a young age.
The researchers coded each autobiography by counting the number of positive, negative, and neutral emotion words, but they focused primarily on positive emotional content because few autobiographies expressed negative emotions. They assessed positive-emotion words, sentences, and the variety of emotions expressed.
For example, Sister A, who was coded as low in positive emotion, wrote-
“I was born on September 26, 1909, the eldest of seven children, five girls and two boys… I spent my candidate year in the Motherhouse, teaching chemistry and Second Year at the Notre Dame Institute. With God’s grace, I intend to do my best for our order, for the spread of religion and for my personal sanctification.”
In contrast, Sister B, coded as high in positive emotion, wrote-
“God started my life off well by bestowing on me a grace of inestimable value. The past year, which I spent as a candidate studying at Notre Dame College, has been a very happy one. Now I look forward with eager joy to receiving the Holy Habit of Our Lady and to a life of union with Love Divine.”
Key Findings of Nun Study
- Positive Emotion and Mortality- The study identified a significant inverse association between the number of positive emotion sentences in early-life autobiographies and the risk of mortality later in life. For every 1% increase in positive emotion sentences, there was a 1.4% decrease in the mortality rate. No significant associations were found between mortality risk and negative or non-emotion sentences.
Positive Emotions’ Expression and Mortality Rate
- Quartile Analysis- An analysis based on quartile rankings of positive emotion sentences revealed a stepwise increase in mortality risk as the quartile ranking of positive emotions decreased, with a 2.5-fold difference in mortality between the lowest and highest quartiles. The median age at death varied significantly: 86.6 years for the lowest quartile, 93.5 years for the highest quartile, demonstrating a 6.9-year difference in lifespan based on positive emotional expression.
Quartile Ranking
- Further Measures of Positive Emotion- Other measures of positive emotions, including the total number of positive emotion words and the variety of positive emotions expressed, also showed strong inverse associations with mortality. The differences in median age at death based on these measures were even more pronounced, with 9.4 years for the number of positive emotion words and 10.7 years for the number of different positive emotions.
- Linguistic Ability Control- The association between positive emotion content and survival remained consistent even after adjusting for linguistic ability, education, and other factors. This indicates that the impact of positive emotional expression on longevity is robust, even among highly educated individuals such as teachers.
Positive Emotions Linked to Longevity
The researchers followed these nuns for over six decades, analyzing survival data when the nuns were between 75 and 94 years old. By the time of the follow-up study, 42% of the nuns had passed away.
Astonishingly, the most cheerful nuns lived, on average, a decade longer than their less cheerful counterparts. By age 80, 60% of the least cheerful nuns had died, compared to only 25% of the most cheerful ones (Danner et al., 2001).
This suggests a strong correlation between positive emotional expression in early life and the likelihood of surviving to an advanced age.
In essence, the Nun Study lends empirical support to the idea that a positive emotional outlook—early in life—can have long-lasting benefits for health and longevity. The researchers concluded that maintaining a positive attitude, or adopting a “don’t worry, be happy” mindset, may indeed help you live longer.
Implications of Nun Study
The findings from the Nun Study have several important implications across various domains, including psychology, health, aging, and public policy. Here are the key implications-
1. Psychological Well-Being- The study underscores the significance of fostering positive emotional expression early in life. Mental health interventions that focus on enhancing positive emotions may improve overall well-being and contribute to longer life spans. Programs that teach emotional regulation, mindfulness, and gratitude could help individuals cultivate a more positive outlook, potentially leading to better health outcomes.
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2. Health Outcomes- Understanding the link between positive emotions and longevity can inform preventive health strategies. Emphasizing emotional health may reduce the risk of chronic diseases and enhance overall health. Health care providers could integrate psychological assessments into physical health evaluations, recognizing that mental and emotional well-being are critical to physical health.
3. Aging and Longevity- The findings suggest that older adults who maintain a positive emotional outlook may experience better health and longevity. Encouraging a positive attitude towards aging can help mitigate some age-related challenges. Programs aimed at enhancing resilience and coping strategies in older adults may promote longevity, emphasizing the psychological aspects of healthy aging.
4. Social and Community Implications- Creating environments that promote positive social interactions and emotional support can enhance community well-being. Programs that encourage social engagement, volunteerism, and community participation could have lasting effects on longevity. Initiatives that connect younger and older generations can foster positive emotional exchanges, benefiting both groups and potentially enhancing longevity.
5. Policy and Public Health- Policymakers should consider the implications of emotional health on longevity when developing public health initiatives. Investing in mental health resources could yield significant health benefits for communities. Raising awareness about the importance of emotional health and its relationship to physical health could drive community health campaigns, promoting practices that enhance emotional well-being.
6. Research and Future Studies- The findings open avenues for additional research into the mechanisms underlying the relationship between positive emotions and longevity. Longitudinal studies exploring the impact of specific positive emotional practices on health outcomes could provide deeper insights. Further studies could examine how cultural factors influence emotional expression and longevity, potentially leading to culturally tailored interventions.
Conclusion
The Nun Study highlights the profound connection between emotional well-being and longevity. Although many factors contribute to a long life, the study emphasizes the unique influence of early-life positive emotional expression on later-life outcomes. These findings reinforce the importance of cultivating a positive emotional outlook—not just for mental well-being, but for physical health and longevity as well.
References
Danner, D. D., Snowdon, D. A., & Friesen, W. V. (2001). Positive emotions in early life and longevity: Findings from the Nun Study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 80(5), 804–813.
Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218-226.
Salovey, P., Rothman, A. J., Detweiler, J. B., & Steward, W. T. (2000). Emotional states and physical health. American Psychologist, 55(1), 110-121.
Segerstrom, S. C. (2006). How does optimism suppress immunity? Psychological Science, 17(10), 841–847.
Snowdon, D. A., et al. (2001). Aging with Grace: What the Nun Study Teaches Us About Leading Longer, Healthier, and More Meaningful Lives. Bantam Books.