Helping and supporting others may be key to living a longer and healthier life, according to a new research from the University of Bagel in Switzerland. The findings published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, show that grandparents who care for their grandchildren enjoy longer lifespans. So do old people who care for others within their social networks.
Using data from the Berlin Aging Study, the researchers analyzed the longevity(寿命) and caregiving habits of more than 500 old people between the ages of 70 and 103. The study compared grandparents who acted as occasional caregivers with those who did not. It also compared these grandparents with old adults who did not have grandchildren but cared for people within their social networks.
Those grandparents who did not play the role of attending to grandchildren were more likely to have died within just five years of the testing period. While those old adults who provided, support to their family lived for an extra seven years on average and those provided support to their social networks lived for an extra four years on average.
Although the new study only focused on old adults, it's safe to assume that the health benefits of helping and taking care of others also reach those of all ages. However, it's important to note that too much caregiving often has just the opposite effect. There's a clear link between too much caregiving and a number of negative physical and mental health consequences.
