Lesser lies, greater health advantages

By Tooba Altaf Aug 6th, 2012 ( 2 Comments )

London: Good health requires not only good diet and exercise but telling fewer lies would also help, according to a new research.

A research reveals great mental and physical health advantages to those who reduced their everyday lies.

Research included 110 people and half of them were told to stop lying for 10 weeks and other half (free group) people were not given any instruction.

People in no-lie group reported less of headaches, sore throats, tenseness, anxiety and other problems than those in the free group.

“The link was that clear, not lying was clearly associated with better health for those individuals. I think it’s a compelling way to look at it,” said study author Anita Kelly, a professor of psychology.

Kelly thinks that her research is different from others as it focuses on the affects of lying on the health rather than how to detect a liar.

In addition to lesser health problems, the research also found out that people experienced an improvement in their personal relationships and their social interactions also went smoothly.

The participants of research included people aged from 18 to 71 with both genders and various ethnicities. All came to laboratory weekly to complete various tests regarding the research.

Dr. Bryan Bruno, acting chairman of the department of psychiatry at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City said, “I think lying can cause a lot of stress for people, contributing to anxiety and even depression.”

Bruno added, “Lying less is not only good for your relationships, but for yourself as an individual. People might recognize the more devastating impact lying can have on relationships, but probably don’t recognize the extent to which it can cause a lot of internal stress.”

Kelly observed that at the end of 10 weeks of research, participants devised various ways for themselves to lie less like not exaggerating an event, avoiding any tough situation with some distraction and not making an excuse of coming late or not doing a task.

According to Kelly, “I think white lies are trouble, not just major lies. The goal doesn’t have to be the absolute absence of lies . . . the goal would be a reduction in lies. What people can do is to commit themselves to lying less.”

The research is presented at the American Psychological Association’s annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. And until it is published in a peer-reviewed journal, it is considered as preliminary.