7 Lessons from Harvard's 84 Year Old Study of Adult Development

The longest running study on happiness:

Harvard's 84 year old Study of Adult Development.

Here are 7 lessons from the study to help you live a happier life:

— Zain Kahn (@heykahn) April 4, 2023

1. A happy childhood goes a long way:

A happy childhood is correlated with:
• Better physical health
• Strong relationships in later life
• Lower likelihood of depression by 50

We're all beyond our childhood, but this is helpful information for parents.

— Zain Kahn (@heykahn) April 4, 2023

2. But a bad childhood can be compensated in middle age:

A bad childhood can undermine later happiness in life.

But people who focused on nurturing the next generation through parenting and other means had a much happier adulthood than those who didn't.

— Zain Kahn (@heykahn) April 4, 2023

3. Time with loved ones has strong positive effects on happiness:

• Quality of relationships matters more than quantity.

• However, quantity of time spent with those relationships is vital.

• Having a spouse, especially in old age, helped a lot with keeping sadness at bay.

— Zain Kahn (@heykahn) April 4, 2023

4. Coping strategies really help:

These include:
• Altruism
• Helping the disadvantaged
• Suppressing negative feelings

Effective coping strategies were a predictor for better relationships, strong social support, and sharper brains.

— Zain Kahn (@heykahn) April 4, 2023

5. Lifestyle has a significant impact on well being:

Those who aged well:
• Were physically active
• Didn't smoke or drink much
• Had low body weight
• Enjoyed stable marriages

— Zain Kahn (@heykahn) April 4, 2023

6. Know when to let go:

• Happier adults were better at letting go of past failures and troubles.

• They spend more of their time focusing on activities and things that bring them joy.

— Zain Kahn (@heykahn) April 4, 2023

7. The most important finding:

Close relationships are the strongest predictor of happiness ― even more so than social class, IQ, fame, money, or even genes.

The folks most satisfied with their relationships at 50, were also the healthiest at age 80.

— Zain Kahn (@heykahn) April 4, 2023

This quote from Robert Waldinger, the study's Director, sums it up:

“Loneliness kills. It’s as powerful as smoking or alcoholism.”

— Zain Kahn (@heykahn) April 4, 2023