Researchers using German survey data on roughly 40,000 people analyzed how satisfied they were with their lives in the present and how satisfied they predicted they would be in five years. Among respondents 65 or older, underestimating future satisfaction was associated with a lower likelihood of disability and death, even after the researchers adjusted statistically for age, gender, education, income and health.
In general, the study found, people grow more pessimistic in their predictions for themselves as they age. Older respondents were especially likely to underestimate future satisfaction.
Why the link between pessimism and longevity? "Perceiving a dark future," the researchers write, could spur people into "taking improved precautions."
"Forecasting Life Satisfaction Across Adulthood: Benefits of Seeing a Dark Future?" Frieder R. Lang, David Weiss, Denis Gerstorf, Gert G. Wagner, Psychology and Aging
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