Happiness and health, part one: How positive emotions affect physical well-being by Shirley Archer, JD, MA

How happy are you? The answer to this question may predict how healthy you are or how long you'll live. "Happiness science" offers strong and growing evidence, particularly over the past decade, that positive emotions impact mental and physical health, resulting not only in a better quality of life, but also a longer and healthier life. ... Today, compelled by research findings, leading health professionals look at ways to integrate efforts to promote positive well-being into healthcare and public health policy. So, how might this benefit you as an individual and as a professional who works in an active-aging setting? Here's a look at what the latest research tells us about the significant relationship between happiness and health.