You Can Control How Long You Live

Do you believe that you can be a success in life and live to a ripe old age? Well, you can if you have the right attitude, say researchers at Brandeis University and the University of Rochester.

A study that analyzed the relationship between longevity and how much control people believe they have in their lives found that those who trust they can achieve their goals in the face of hardship tend to live longer and healthier.

Interestingly, while other studies show that a college degree helps you live longer, this research shows that having higher perceived control gives those with less education a greater life expectancy.

“A high sense of control all but wipes out educational differences when it comes to mortality,” says researcher Margie Lachman. “A person with less education but a high sense of control is practically indistinguishable from a person of high education.”