Be Social and Manage Stress to Live Longer

A new study finds that individuals who are outgoing and manage stress well have traits found in the children of people who lived to 100 years old, and longevity is thought to run in families.

"We have observed that these appear to be really important traits that set the children of centenarians apart from other people the same age who may not age as well," says Dr. Thomas Perls, at the Boston University School of Medicine.

The study, which focuses on older people and their family members, has tracked the health of children of centenarians as they age, trying to uncover the common denominators of longevity.

The latest findings are published online in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Longevity Can Run in Families

Because research had already found that longevity runs strongly in families, Dr. Perls and his colleagues decided to look at 246 offspring of those who lived to 100 to see if their children, now about age 75, had common personality traits.

They evaluated levels of five personality traits - neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness - and compared them with published norms for each trait.

They found that the offspring of centenarians were more extraverted than the published norms. That means "they are quite social, establish important friendships, and view these friendships as 'safety nets,' " important sources of help when needed, says Dr. Perls.

The offspring of centenarians scored lower than the norms on neuroticism, the study found. Dr. Perls says that translates into an ability to manage stress very well.

Women in the study also scored high in agreeableness, a trait that might pave the way for friendships, notes Dr. Perls. The men in the study were no higher in agreeableness than normal, and men and women scored average levels for openness and conscientiousness.

As for the exact relationship between personality and longevity, "we are relying on scientific literature to understand exactly what it means," says Dr. Perls.

For instance, he said, it makes sense that scoring lower in neuroticism - and handling stress well - would contribute to a longer life, because stress has been shown in scientific studies to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Other research has found social ties to be important to a senior person's health.

"We really found that the offspring of centenarians, in their 70s and early 80s, are very much following in the footsteps of their parents," says Dr. Perls. "They have 60 percent reduced rates of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes."

The latest study findings do not surprise Colin Milner, chief executive of the International Council on Active Aging, based in Vancouver, Canada.

"It's probably been said before in different ways," Milner says of the study's findings on the longevity benefits of managing stress and forming friendships.

"We are talking about the positive aspects of life," he adds.

Milner says that his grandmother, who is 98, has the traits Dr. Perls found that are associated with longevity.

When she became a widow, notes Milner, she stayed positive and remained open to new experiences - which for her included becoming a hockey fan - and making new friends.

When Milner gives lectures to people at retirement communities on active aging, "you walk in and see who is engaged in life," he says. "If you are engaged, you are less negative, more open, and more agreeable. That's why you are engaged."

You Can Learn Social Behaviors

And, says Milner, "People will engage with you" if you have those traits. But what to do if you are not naturally outgoing and are not good at handling stress?

Remember, says Dr. Perls, you can get better at each.

People can make a point of trying to be more outgoing, he says. They might plan to travel more, for instance, and would naturally meet people along the way.

"If you don't have a personality that naturally manages stress, figure out a way to reduce stress that works," says Dr. Perls. "Exercise, enjoy time with the family."

Always consult your physician for more information.