Study reveals the secret to a good life
An American university has spent nearly 90 years trying to determine what makes us happy. Here’s what they found.
Since 1938, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has pursued a bold goal to answer a fundamental question: What makes a life go well?
Starting with two vastly different groups – Harvard university undergraduates and boys from Boston’s poorest neighbourhoods – researchers began tracking hundreds of people across their entire lives.
More than 80 years later, the study is now the world’s longest running study on happiness, having expanded to include more than 1,300 descendants across three generations.
The study collects data on health, income, habits, relationships, and subjective life experience, such as satisfaction, emotional balance, and sense of purpose.
It is now led by psychologist, Marc Schulz, and his colleague, Robert Waldinger, who have written a book based on its findings, titled The Good Life.
While society has changed dramatically since 1938, the core questions we all wrestle with – identity, connection, and fulfilment – have not.
People today face the same challenges as those in 1938, just under different circumstances. The enduring lesson is that the world changes, but what people need to thrive largely remains the same.
After 87 years, the study's most important conclusion is remarkably simple: strong relationships are the most consistent predictor of a long, healthy, and happy life.
Schulz notes that while happiness can seem abstract, it is measurable. Happiness, he says, is not about feeling great all the time, but feeling that life is satisfying overall.
Crucially, the study counters common misconceptions about happiness. Success and money are important for meeting basic needs, but beyond that, the research shows more money doesn’t make much difference to our happiness.
This relates to the concept of a “hedonic treadmill”, where achieving a goal brings brief happiness before the goalposts move again, leading to constant chasing instead of finding meaning.
The study makes it clear that relationships are key. Family, friends, romantic partners, and even co-workers all matter. People focused on success and money often neglect these vital connections – a habit reinforced by cultural messages that equate happiness with status or performance.
Schulz’s findings also talk about the concept of “social fitness”, suggesting that relationships, like physical health, require regular care.
The study offers hope, showing that change is always possible and it is never too late to build a better life.
Ultimately, the study finds that a good life isn’t about luck, it’s about how we choose to connect with each other
Related reading: iPaper, Harvard Medicine
