Improvements in the relationships accounted for a significant improvement in health.” Anita Kelly, lead author of the study
Results of a newly-conducted study have shown that people who tell fewer lies enjoy enhanced mental and physical functions.
By performing polygraph tests on 110 people aged between 18-71 over 10 weeks, a group of psychologists from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, US, found that when the participants made an effort to tell less lies their overall health improved.
According to the researchers, about half of the participants in the study were encouraged to refrain from telling major lies or fibs over the 10-week period through adopting strategies including refusing to answer questions and keeping secrets while the other half received no instructions.
Once in a week, both group filled in questionnaires about their mental and physical health and their close relationships. They also took a lie detector test.
The study revealed that those in the no-group lies reported fewer health complaints both mentally and physically, highlighting the strong relationship between honesty and better health.
Anita Kelly, researcher and the lead author of the study, also noted that findings of the research supported “the notion that lying less can cause better health through improving relationships.”
“Improvements in the relationships accounted for a significant improvement in health,” she added.
The study was presented at the American Psychological Association's annual convention in Orlando Florida which ended on August 5.
MR/GHN