Recent research has shown that stress during the viewing of films or the reading of common situations can increase the risk of premature death. The study indicated that such behavior, associated with neuroticism, increases the risk of premature death by 10%. Neuroticism, one of the five main personality traits in psychology, is linked to negative emotions such as fear, sadness, and irritation. This trait describes individuals who are prone to anxious feelings, such as loneliness, helplessness, irritation, and depression, which can ruin their mind and body.
Researchers found that loneliness is the strongest indicator of premature death, as it can lead to harmful effects on oneself, including damage to the respiratory and digestive systems. The research also showed that fluctuations in mood and feelings of fatigue are related to an increased risk of death.
The results indicated that those who had higher levels of neuroticism experienced feelings of loneliness. It is possible that the link between loneliness and premature death is conditioned by increased feelings of isolation as an individual approaches death.
The study was conducted on a sample of more than half a million people. Over 17 years, approximately 43,400 participants died, which constituted roughly 8.8% of the total number of participants. The average age of the deceased was 70 years, with the most common causes of death being cancer, nervous disease, respiratory, and digestive system diseases.
Those who died from breathing or digestive problems most frequently reported constant fatigue. However, only 0.7% of participants admitted to the presence of detrimental effects on themselves.
Previous studies also indicated that neuroticism is strongly associated with nervous conditions such as Alzheimer and Parkinson, as well as with insulin and other conditions. This suggests that neuroticism and loneliness significantly influence a person's health.
The research aims to broaden the understanding of the effects of loneliness on health and longevity, and also supports the fact that neuroticism and loneliness indeed affect human health.
