If you cry in the movies, you're likely to die young: study finds

According to the study, if a person cries while watching movies, perceives ordinary situations as threatening, or is afraid of being left alone, he or she is at risk of dying young. This behavior is mostly true for those with neuroticism.

Neuroticism is associated with negative emotions such as fear, sadness, and irritability. However, scientists emphasize that this psychological trait consists of various components that destroy the body and mind, DailyMail writes.

Scientists have identified loneliness as the clearest harbinger of premature death, as this feeling can lead to diseases of the respiratory and digestive systems, as well as suicide. Other aspects of neuroticism, such as mood swings and fatigue, were also associated with a higher risk of mortality in the study.

Overall, the team found that the link between neuroticism and mortality was stronger in men, as well as among people under 54 and, interestingly, those without a college degree.

A team of researchers led by the University of Florida analyzed data from the UK Biobank, a massive database that contains biological samples and genetic, lifestyle, and health information from half a million people.

Almost 500,000 people whose information was stored in the Biobank were assessed for neuroticism between 2006 and 2010. For 17 years, scientists have been monitoring the lives and diseases of these people.

The research team used the "vital status" data along with the participants' neuroticism scores to find out whether a personality trait and certain components of it were more closely associated with premature death than others.

During this 17-year period, 43,400 of the approximately 500,000 participants died – about 8.8 percent. The data showed that the average age of death was 70, with cancer, diseases of the nervous system, respiratory system, and digestive system being the leading causes.

All people with higher neuroticism scores reported feeling lonely. "Loneliness had a much stronger effect on mortality than the other components of neuroticism. The findings show that those who reported being lonely are at a significantly higher risk of death than those who experience anxiety or guilt," said senior author and professor of geriatrics at Florida State University Antonio Terracciano, PhD.

The study provides new insight into how loneliness affects health and longevity, as experts warn that the United States is facing an epidemic of loneliness.

According to scientists, loneliness can increase the risk of premature death to a level comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day

In addition, previous studies have shown that neuroticism is a strong predictor of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as other conditions including stroke, irritable bowel disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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