Harvard's 85-year study reveals the number one key to happiness

Throughout our lives, we’re on the hunt for happiness. Right from our childhood to adulthood, we’re constantly chasing factors that we believe will bring us happiness. We stress things like a job, a relationship, or even something tangible. In the bargain of acquiring true joy, we prioritize so many things we think are necessary. However, experts from Harvard University revealed that there is only one key factor required to secure blissful happiness. An 85-year-old study spilled the beans on this one factor and we’re all ears! The study was initially conducted on college students and over time incorporated males in their 50s and 60s to get an understanding of what affects health and happiness at later stages in life. 

Started in 1938, the study was finally able to reveal that the one thing that profoundly matters when it comes to happiness is social fitness. Elaborating further, experts mentioned that the amount of healthy relationships we have throughout our lives will affect how content we are, per CBNC Make It. Dr. Robert Waldinger, the project’s director, pointed out, “Personal connection creates mental and emotional stimulation, which are automatic mood boosters, while isolation is a mood buster.” He also astonishingly mentioned that loneliness has a killing effect as impactful as that of smoking and alcoholism. Whether it's friends, family, spouses or any other relationship, interpersonal communication, and bonding is a relieving and optimistic path. 

The study conducted observed the lives of the participants and noted that the success or failure in their various relationships affected their health. “The surprising finding is that our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships have a powerful influence on our health,” Waldinger remarked. He explained that undoubtedly taking care of oneself is important but managing relationships is as crucial and is a factor that had been overlooked. Speaking more about the astonishing findings in their study, the expert shared in a TED talk how they determined the health factors for participants in their 50s.

Waldinger noted that cholesterol and other readings weren't as noteworthy in determining health as healthy relationships. He said, “When we gathered together everything we knew about them at age 50, it wasn’t their middle-age cholesterol levels that predicted how they were going to grow old. It was how satisfied they were in their relationships. The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80.” The study stressed that good relationships have a positive effect not just on one's body but also on one's brain.

Citing another striking factor, Waldinger mentioned that the relationships didn't always have to be smooth and happy but rather healthy. “Those good relationships, they don’t have to be smooth all the time. Some of our octogenarian couples could bicker with each other day in and day out, but as long as they felt that they could really count on the other when the going got tough, those arguments didn’t take a toll on their memories,” he mentioned. So if you're looking for effective happiness, catch a game with your buddies or plan that family outing! It's better for your health than you think! 

This article originally appeared 3 months ago.