A 2009 study of 1,238 elderly people found that those with a sense of purpose lived longer.
A 2010 study of 900 older adults found that those with a greater sense of purpose were much less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Survey data often links a sense of purpose in life with increased happiness.
Sense of purpose
The conclusion comes from a review of 10 different studies.
Together they include data from over 137,000 people.
Unsurprisingly, the researchers also found that people with a lower sense of purpose in life have an increased risk of developing heart disease.
Dr Alan Rozanski, the study’s co-author, said:
“Prior studies have linked a variety of psychosocial risk factors to heart disease, including negative factors such as anxiety and depression and positive factors such as optimism and social support.
Based on our findings, future research should now further assess the importance of life purpose as a determinant of health and well-being and assess the impact of strategies designed to improve individuals’ sense of life purpose.”
Exposure to nature provides improvements to focus, mood, blood pressure and heart rate.
Exposure to nature provides improvements to focus, mood, blood pressure and heart rate.
As little as 10 minutes spent in nature is enough to make people feel happier.
While 10 minutes in nature works, a little more is even better.
Up to around 50 minutes spent in nature provides the largest improvements to focus, mood, blood pressure and heart rate.
People only need to be either sitting or walking to get the boost.
Physicians should ‘prescribe’ a dose of nature to people to help prevent depression and anxiety, the researchers believe.
Dr Gen Meredith, the study’s first author, said:
“It doesn’t take much time for the positive benefits to kick in—we’re talking 10 minutes outside in a space with nature.
We firmly believe that every student, no matter what subject or how high their workload, has that much discretionary time each day, or at least a few times per week.”
For the study, scientists reviewed 14 separate pieces of research on the effects of exposing young people to nature.
The results of all the studies revealed that between 10 and 50 minutes exposure to nature provided the maximum benefit.
Dr Donald Rakow, study co-author, said:
“It’s not that there’s a decline after 50 minutes, but rather that the physiological and self-reported psychological benefits tend to plateau after that.”
Sitting and walking were the only two activities the research looked at, Dr Rakow said:
“We wanted to keep this access to nature as simple and achievable as possible.
While there is a lot of literature on longer outdoor programs, we wanted to quantify doses in minutes, not days.”
Doses of nature could be prescribed by physicians, said Dr Meredith:
“Prescribing a dose can legitimize the physician’s recommendation and give a tangible goal.
It’s different than just saying: ‘Go outside.’
There is something specific that a student can aim for.”
The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology (Meredith et al., 2020).
Why group connections matter more than simple kindness.
Why group connections matter more than simple kindness.
When social relationships provide an all important sense of belonging, people feel life has more meaning
The effect was revealed in one experiment in which participants were asked to close their eyes and think of two people or groups to which they really belonged.
Then they were asked about how much meaning they felt life had.
This group was compared with two others where participants (1) thought about the value of other people and (2) the help that others had provided them.
Compared with these two conditions, participants who had been thinking about the groups they belonged to felt the highest levels of meaning in life.
So, belonging to a group provided meaning over and above the value of others or the help they could provide.
It’s more than just bonding, therefore, but really feeling like you are fitting in with others which is associated with higher levels of meaningfulness.
Just the reverse effect has been shown in previous studies: people who feel excluded from social groups tend to feel that life has less meaning.
Belonging and coherence
One of most people’s missions in life–whether they realise it or not–is to find meaning.
Feeling that life is meaningful is important because:
People who feel life is meaningful are more likely to be in both good psychological and good physical health.
People who feel life isn’t meaningful are more likely to be depressed, to require therapy and even feel suicidal.
Meaning is found in various ways–sometimes through family, religion and the sense of self.
But, certainly, one way to find meaning in life is by seeking out one or more places where we belong and where things make sense.
One reason that belonging increases meaning in life is it promotes the idea of continuity and of permanence.
If you belong to an organisation or group that is greater than yourself, there is comfort in the idea that it will outlast you.
Along with feeling like we belong, coherence in our environment also promotes meaning.
When we experience things that don’t make sense, we feel life has less meaning.
Demonstrating this, one study has found that people who viewed the seasons in the correct order (spring, summer, fall, winter) felt life had more meaning than those who saw them out of order (Heintzelman et al., 2013).
So: where do you belong and does it make sense to you?
From brain chemistry to lifestyle choices, these remarkable facts about happiness reveal the truth behind human contentment
This comprehensive guide explores the fascinating science behind happiness, from brain chemistry to cultural influences.
The biology of joy: How your brain creates happiness
Happiness isn’t just a feeling – it’s a complex interaction of chemicals and neural pathways in your brain.
Scientists have identified several key neurotransmitters that play crucial roles in creating feelings of joy and contentment, including dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin.
Your brain actually has a built-in bias towards negative experiences, a trait that evolved to keep our ancestors safe from danger.
Research shows that we need roughly three positive experiences to counterbalance one negative one, demonstrating how our brains are wired to give more weight to negative events.
The role of neurotransmitters in happiness
Dopamine, often called the “reward chemical,” creates feelings of pleasure and motivation.
Serotonin helps regulate mood, appetite, and sleep patterns, contributing to overall well-being.
Oxytocin, nicknamed the “cuddle hormone,” is released during positive social interactions and helps create feelings of trust and bonding.
Surprising scientific facts about happiness
Studies suggest that approximately 40% of your happiness is determined by your daily activities and choices, while 50% is genetic, and only 10% is influenced by life circumstances.
Contrary to popular belief, having more money only increases happiness up to an annual income of about £60,000, after which the effect diminishes significantly.
Research has found that people tend to become happier as they age, with many reporting peak life satisfaction in their 60s and 70s.
The relationship between age and life satisfaction
Happiness often follows a U-shaped curve throughout life, with the lowest point typically occurring in one’s 40s.
Older adults generally report higher levels of contentment and emotional stability compared to younger people.
This increased happiness in later life appears to be linked to better emotional regulation and a greater appreciation for everyday experiences.
Cultural perspectives on happiness
Different cultures define and experience happiness in remarkably different ways.
Western societies often emphasise individual achievement and personal pleasure as sources of happiness.
Eastern cultures frequently focus more on collective harmony and finding contentment through balanced relationships.
The happiest countries and their common traits
Nordic countries consistently rank among the happiest nations, sharing several key characteristics:
Strong social support systems and welfare programmes
High levels of trust in government and institutions
Excellent work-life balance
Equal access to education and healthcare
The social science of happiness
Human relationships play a fundamental role in our happiness levels, with strong social connections being one of the most reliable predictors of life satisfaction.
Studies show that people with five or more close friends are 60% more likely to report being ‘very happy’.
The quality of our relationships matters more than the quantity, with meaningful connections providing greater benefits than numerous superficial ones.
The impact of digital age on happiness
Social media use has shown mixed effects on happiness, with excessive use often linked to decreased life satisfaction.
Digital connections can supplement but should not replace face-to-face interactions for optimal well-being.
The rise of remote work has created new challenges and opportunities for maintaining social connections and work-life balance.
Environmental influences on happiness
Your physical environment plays a significant role in your happiness levels, often in unexpected ways.
Spending just 20 minutes in nature can significantly boost mood and reduce stress hormones.
Living in areas with easy access to green spaces is associated with higher levels of life satisfaction.
Urban vs rural living and life satisfaction
Research shows that urban dwellers generally report lower levels of happiness compared to those living in rural areas.
However, cities with abundant green spaces and strong community connections can bridge this happiness gap.
The ideal environment for happiness often combines access to nature with opportunities for social connection.
Lesser-known happiness enhancers
Recent research has uncovered several surprising factors that contribute to happiness:
Regular exposure to minor challenges can increase resilience and life satisfaction
Uncertainty, when manageable, can lead to increased happiness by making positive experiences more meaningful
Small acts of kindness have been shown to create lasting improvements in mood
The power of micro-moments
Brief positive interactions, even with strangers, can significantly boost daily happiness levels.
Celebrating small wins and practicing regular gratitude can create lasting improvements in well-being.
The cumulative effect of positive micro-moments often outweighs the impact of major life events.
The future of happiness research
New technologies are enabling researchers to study happiness in real-time, providing unprecedented insights into what makes us truly content.
Artificial intelligence and big data are helping scientists identify patterns in happiness across large populations.
Emerging research suggests that happiness might be more malleable than previously thought, offering hope for those struggling with chronic unhappiness.
Emerging trends in positive psychology
Scientists are increasingly focusing on the role of purpose and meaning in creating lasting happiness.
Research is exploring how individual differences in genetics and personality influence happiness interventions.
New studies are investigating the relationship between happiness and various aspects of modern life, from technology use to climate change awareness.
Understanding these complex factors that influence happiness can help us make better choices in our pursuit of well-being.
Discover how small changes can lead to major life satisfaction.
Discover how small changes can lead to major life satisfaction.
Practising being a little more curious, thankful, optimistic, enthusiastic and humorous makes people happier, research finds.
People who worked on strengthening positive attributes like these felt more satisfied with their lives, psychologists have discovered.
Training simply involved practicing the strength.
For example, some people practicing their gratitude wrote to thank another who had been important in their lives.
Others learned to appreciate beauty more by paying full attention in moments that were beautiful.
People training their curiosity tried an activity or interest that was new to them.
Those looking to improve their enthusiasm incorporated new physical activities into their lives, such as sports, social events or extra challenging work.
Professor Willibald Ruch, who led the study, said:
“Anyone who trained one or more strengths reported an increase in their sense of wellbeing.
This manifested itself in the fact that these participants were more cheerful or more often in a good mood, for instance.”
For the study, 178 people either worked on their strengths or were assigned to a control group who did nothing.
Of the people who worked on their strengths, some worked on those more strongly linked to life satisfaction.
The study’s authors explain:
“…strengths […] that typically correlate highly with life satisfaction (curiosity, gratitude, hope, humor, and zest) was compared in its gain in life satisfaction with a group that trained strengths that usually demonstrate low correlations with life satisfaction (appreciation of beauty and excellence, creativity, kindness, love of learning, and perspective)
and a wait-list control group.”
Both groups who worked on strengths felt happier, the results showed.
Working on curiosity, gratitude, hope, humour, and zest, though, worked best.
