health
March 22, 2026
World's Longest Happiness Study Continues After 88 Years
Discovering the secrets of a happy life can literally take a lifetime. After 88 years, the world's longest study on happiness is still ongoing.
TL;DR
- The Harvard Study of Adult Development, started in 1938, is the world's longest study on happiness and adult life.
- The study initially compared privileged Harvard students with underprivileged Boston teenagers and later expanded to include women and children.
- After 88 years and multiple generations of researchers, the study found that close relationships are the best predictors of health and well-being in old age.
- Satisfying relationships, particularly strong connections with friends and family, are linked to longer, happier, and healthier lives.
- Loneliness and social isolation are significant risk factors for poor health and premature death.
- The quality of relationships, rather than the quantity, is crucial for well-being.
- Satisfying marriages can buffer the negative effects of poor health on happiness.