The main factor in physical and mental health, as well as longevity, according to a study launched in 1938, was not career achievements, a healthy diet or exercise, but strong relationships.
Scientists from Harvard University, who since 1938 lead study of adult development (The Harvard Study of Adult Development), found the dominant factor influencing longevity and physical and mental health – strong relationships.
The longest study of happiness and well-being in the world covered three to four generations of relatives of the original group – regarding 700 people. For 84 years, strong relationships have contributed to longevity and health more than career achievement, a healthy diet, or exercise.
Contemporary leaders of the Harvard Study of Adult Development have published The Good Life: Lessons From the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness, an excerpt from which published WSJ (material focus) drew Reminder).
“Close personal relationships are so important that if you were to condense all the material collected over 85 years of research into one principle, then it would be this: “Strong relationships make us healthy and happy. Dot”. If you have one decision to make in order to maintain health and happiness, then it is worth maintaining warm relationships of all possible kinds, ”the book says.
According to the findings of the researchers, by the age of 80, those who were more satisfied with their relationships remain healthier and happier than people with normal cholesterol levels. Mood and well-being in 80-year-olds can change every day, but the level of happiness is higher in those living in good relationships.
For older people, loneliness is twice as dangerous as obesity and increases the risk of death by 26%, scientists say. The authors cite statistics: meetings with a friend once a week for an hour from 40 to 80 years will give a total of 87 days, once a month – only 20 days. At the same time, a modern person spends 11 hours a day consuming content, which from 40 to 80 years in total turns into 18 years.
