Vaillant G E
N Engl J Med. 1979 Dec 6;301(23):1249-54. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197912063012302.
Four decades ago 204 men were selected as adolescents for an interdisciplinary study of health; since then they have been followed biennially. Of the 185 men who remained in the study and in good health until 1964 (age, 42 +/- 1 years), 100 men remained in excellent physical health over the next 11 years, 54 acquired minor problems, and 31 acquired serious chronic illness or died. Of 59 men with the best mental health, assessed from the age of 21 to 46 years, only two became chronically ill or died by the age of 53. Of the 48 men with the worst mental health from the age of 21 to 46, 18 became chronically ill or died. The relation between previous mental health and subsequent physical health remained statistically significant when the effects on health of alcohol, tobacco use, obesity, and longevity of ancestors were excluded by multiple regression analysis. The data suggest that good mental health retards midlife deterioration in physical health.
四十年前，204名男性被选为青少年进行一项跨学科健康研究；从那时起，他们每两年接受一次随访。在1964年（年龄42±1岁）仍参与研究且身体健康的185名男性中，100名男性在接下来的11年里保持着极佳的身体健康状况，54人出现了小问题，31人患上了严重的慢性病或死亡。在21岁至46岁期间心理健康状况最佳的59名男性中，到53岁时只有两人患上慢性病或死亡。在21岁至46岁期间心理健康状况最差的48名男性中，18人患上慢性病或死亡。当通过多元回归分析排除酒精、烟草使用、肥胖和祖先寿命对健康的影响后，先前心理健康与随后身体健康之间的关系在统计学上仍然显著。数据表明，良好的心理健康状况可延缓中年时期身体健康的恶化。
