Recession May Spur Longevity
Longevity actually flourishes in times of economic hardship, and that may be true for the current recession as well, according to research that appears in the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
After examining life expectancy and mortality data from 1920 to 1940, University of Michigan researchers José Tapia Granados and Ana Diez Roux found a surprising boost. Over that time, they found U.S. life expectancy increased by 6.2 years during the Great Depression-from 57.1 years in 1929 to 63.3 years in 1933, according to this article posted on MSNBC.com.
In fact, the researchers found that while overall population health (as measured by life expectancy) rose during the Great Depression and other recessions between 1921 and 1938, mortality increased during periods of strong economic expansion, such as 1923, 1926, 1929 and 1936-37.
The researchers looked at mortality rates for specific age groups and as a result of six specific causes that accounted for about two-thirds of total mortality in the 1930s: cardiovascular and renal diseases, cancer, influenza and pneumonia, tuberculosis, motor vehicle traffic injuries and suicide. Mortality for all ages due to all the causes declined in periods of economic downturn, except for suicide.
The researchers acknowledge these findings seem counterintuitive, but they still say they may apply to the current recession. Still, there are significant economic and societal differences between now and the 1930s, Granados told LiveScience. While overall population health and life expectancy may improve during down times, that might not be the case for any particular person, especially someone who is unemployed or worried about getting laid off and suffering attendant stress, he noted.
The overall rise persists, though despite potential health declines in those who have lost their jobs, because the majority of the work force is still employed (or retired and receiving benefits), he explained.