We’re often told that some people facing serious illness are “fighters” and that helps them survive or, conversely, that some people “give up” or the like. My question is, are such phenomena scientifically validated? Is willpower really a factor in whether you live or die? —Nelamm18, via e-mail
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People want to believe in willpower. In a 1989 survey of medical professionals, close to 100 percent said they recognized it and believed it made a difference—and in pretty obvious ways it inarguably does. For one thing, people with a positive attitude are more likely to follow their doctor’s orders. One study of breast cancer patients showed a direct relation between a positive mental state and compliance with chemotherapy, presumably increasing their chances of getting better.
With that in mind, cancer patients have been studied to see whether the will to live makes a difference. Some research has shown a link between avoiding depression and increased cancer survival. A long-term study of 205 cancer patients found that those showing fewer depressive symptoms had a roughly 10 percent greater chance of being around ten years after diagnosis. Following a five-year study of 578 women with breast cancer, researchers reported a “significantly reduced chance of survival” for severely depressed patients and that strong feelings of helplessness and hopelessness had a “a moderate but detrimental effect.”
Update 9/11/2018: A new headline was added.
