In the study, researchers at Duke Medical Center tracked 2,800
patients who had been hospitalized with heart disease. Patients
were asked to fill out a survey to determine how they felt about
their medical diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Ten years
later, the group who answered the questions with a negative
attitude saw 46 deaths per 100 people. But those with the most
positive approach had 32 deaths per 100 subjects, when adjusted
for factors like age and previous heart problems. “Our research
shows better physical recovery and a higher likelihood of
survival is linked to attitude—personal beliefs about their
illness,” John C. Barefoot, the study’s lead author and
professor emeritus in the department of psychiatry at Duke, told
USA Today. Barefoot explains that optimistic people might be
better at dealing with their diagnosis, more likely to take
medicine regularly and listen to doctors, and better at managing
stress compared to pessimistic patients. There is a danger of
being too optimistic, though. The