People with good moral character are less likely to develop heart disease –

Being a better person can improve one’s mental and physical health, a new study suggests.

Harvard University researchers found that people who reported personality and personality traits consistent with “good moral character” were up to 50 percent less likely to suffer from depression.

They also found significant changes in a person’s risk of developing heart disease by their moral standards, and those who are more willing to delay gratification in their daily lives will be less anxious.

The research team hopes that these findings will reinforce the inherent human desire to be a good person, as there are now tangible health benefits.

“Our findings suggest that individuals who live their lives by high moral standards are significantly less likely to develop depression,” Harvard researcher Dr Dorata Weziak-Bialowolska said in a statement. she said.

“They also suggest that preferences for delayed gratification may be related to reducing the risk of anxiety, and that using moral strengths to help others may benefit one’s physical health.”

Publishing their findings in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, the researchers collected survey data and health insurance data from 1,209 study participants.

They each completed questionnaires in 2018 and 2019 to assess how they relate to a particular set of expressions.

To assess the “moral compass,” they asked if they always knew what to do.

Questions such as “Am I willing to face challenges to do good” and “Give up personal pleasures when good can be done” were asked.

Other questions assessed their personal strength, kindness, and willingness to delay gratification for long-term benefits.

The study population was higher in every statistic in 2019 than in 2018.

They found that people who heavily tested the moral compass were up to 50% less likely to suffer from depression.

The researchers also found a clear relationship between anxiety rates and the degree to which a person is willing to delay happiness now for a more positive outcome in the future.

People who scored higher on different criteria were also less likely to have heart disease, depending on how they scored.

“We know that character strengths are positive personality traits that are essential to one’s identity, contribute to betterment, and play a beneficial role in promoting well-being and positive health,” said Weziak-Bialowolska.

Although this is just a start-up study, the team of experts hope it means people are rewarded for good work.

“However, because these positive personality traits are malleable and compatible with the almost universal human desire to be a better person, public health policies that promote them will be welcomed by the general public,” Weziak added. -Bialowolska.