For many of us, being persistent is a good thing. Especially since staying determined increases the odds you'll succeed and personal success is closely connected to well-being. But what if the goal is far beyond a person's reasonable grasp? When does persistence start to take a negative toll on a person's health? To reliably distinguish between people who persist or let go in the face of a difficult goal, psychologists developed an instrument designed for lab testing. Through numerous experiments, psychologists studied the two personality types to see how healthy and well adjusted they are.
The most recent study, published in the latest issue of Psychological Science, followed the well-being of teenagers for one year. During that time, individuals who persisted in obtaining hard to reach goals had higher levels of a protein called CRP, an indicator of bodily inflammation.
Studies have recently linked inflammation to several serious diseases including diabetes and heart disease. This indicates that healthy, but overly tenacious teenagers may already be headed toward chronic illness later in life. Lead psychologists suggest that stepping away from a lofty goal may have benefits.
They claim, "When people are faced with situations in which they cannot realize a key life goal, the most adaptive response for physical and mental health may be to disengage from this goal." Additionally, both groups were found to have a greater sense of purpose and mastery when they were able to disengage from an imposing goal and set new ones.