Feeling Good May Help You Live Longer

Credit: Adobe Stock/deagreez

A global study of 123 countries looked at whether feeling happy — what investigators call subjective well-being — affects the risk of dying early from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The goal was to find out whether there’s a “tipping point” of happiness that maximizes health benefits.

“Intuitively, one might expect that the happier people are, the healthier they become,” wrote investigators. “To a point, this is supported by evidence — chronic stress and dissatisfaction are clearly detrimental, whereas moderate happiness and optimism are linked to favorable health markers. However, emerging theoretical perspectives caution that more happiness is not always better in a linear fashion.”

Previous research has indicated it may be possible to have “too much of a good thing,” with extremely high levels of happiness linked to risk-taking behaviors or complacency — both of which can undermine health. Other studies have shown that those who are too carefree or happy may neglect warnings or indulge in unhealthy pleasures without taking caution into account.

The team used a national happiness score called the Life-Ladder, which ranges from 0 (very unhappy) to 10 (very happy), and compared it with rates of death from NCDs in adults aged 30 to 70. They also accounted for other factors that affect health, like obesity, alcohol use, city living, air pollution, health care spending, economic wealth and government quality.

The study found a critical threshold: Once a country’s average happiness score reaches about 2.7, higher happiness starts to make a real difference in reducing NCD deaths.

According to the lead investigator, professor Iulia Cristina Iuga, a researcher at 1 Decembrie 1918 University of Alba Iulia, Romania, below 2.7 is considered “barely coping.”

Above this level:

• Every 1% increase in happiness was linked to a 0.43% decrease in NCD mortality.
• Obesity and alcohol use consistently increased deaths.
• Urban living, which could be harmful in less happy populations, became protective in happier populations.
• Higher health care spending and wealth also helped — but mostly after happiness passed the threshold.

The study also confirmed a two-way relationship: Not only can happiness reduce premature deaths, but lower death rates can also contribute to higher happiness over time.

Takeaway for Patients:

• Feeling happy isn’t just good for your mood — it can be protective for your physical health, especially once a certain baseline level of happiness is reached.
• Public health strategies that improve overall well-being while also addressing obesity, alcohol use and environmental risks could create a positive cycle of longer, healthier and happier lives.
• There’s no evidence that “too much” happiness is harmful — more happiness is consistently linked to better health outcomes.

Investigators noted several limitations to their study. The happiness data came from self-reported surveys, which can be affected by personal or cultural differences in how people rate their well-being. Some lower-income or conflict-affected countries were not fully represented, which could bias the results. Because the study used national averages, it may not reflect differences within countries — such as those by age, gender, income or region. In addition, the analysis only included adults ages 30 to 70, leaving out younger and older populations. Finally, while the study controlled for many factors, it’s still possible that unmeasured influences or two-way effects between happiness and health could have affected the findings.

The team said future work will include other factors such as years lived with disability or impairment, hospital admissions and metabolic biomarkers to explore whether higher levels of happiness can delay the onset of disease or lessen its severity.

“Identifying this tipping point could provide more accurate evidence for health policy,” concluded Iuga. “Happiness is not just a personal feeling but also a measurable public health resource.”