Do you cry easily while watching movies? You are more likely to die young, says study

Participants who experienced loneliness consistently throughout the study period showed a heightened risk of death. (Representational)

If you tend to cry easily at movies, struggle with rejection, or find ordinary situations overwhelming, a new study suggests that these traits may raise your risk of an early death. Conducted by researchers from Florida State University, the study found that people with neurotic tendencies — particularly those feeling persistent loneliness — are 10% more likely to experience premature death. These findings are especially significant for men, younger individuals under 54, and those without a college education.

The research, based on data from nearly 5,00,000 people stored in the UK Biobank, followed participants for 17 years, examining neuroticism's link to premature death and its underlying causes.

"It was surprising that loneliness had a much stronger impact than other components of neuroticism," study co-author and geriatrics professor Antonio Terracciano told DailyMail. "Those who reported being lonely were at much higher risk of death than those who felt anxious or guilty," he added.

Key Findings
While neuroticism encompasses traits like irritability, fear, and sadness, loneliness emerged as the strongest predictor of premature death. Scientists noted that loneliness can prompt self-destructive behaviours and lead to illnesses affecting the respiratory and digestive systems.

Out of the 43,400 participants who died during the study period, 291 deaths were attributed to intentional self-harm. These individuals reported intense feelings of stress, guilt, and mood swings.

The study further highlighted that feelings of being "fed up" and "irritable" were prevalent among those who died from respiratory and digestive diseases, indicating that persistent negative emotions could aggravate physical ailments.

Participants who experienced loneliness consistently throughout the study period showed a heightened risk of death, with this association remaining stable even when early deaths within the initial five to ten years were excluded.

According to a 2023 report from the US Surgeon General, isolation poses severe health risks, with a 29% increased likelihood of heart disease, a 32% increased stroke risk, and a 50% higher chance of dementia in older adults. Comparatively, loneliness can be as detrimental to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Neuroticism is also linked to neurological conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, along with diseases such as stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).