Insights from the most extensive study on happiness

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Conflicted relationships -

The study suggests that highly conflicted marriages, without much affection, are terrible for people’s health and are perhaps even worse for their well-being than getting divorced.

 

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Healthy relationships -

Conversely, good relationships are protective of our health and well-being. Looking back at people’s lives, the ones who had healthy relationships fared the best when they got older.

 

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Growing old -

The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80.

 

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Relationships and perception of pain -

Older people in good relationships reported that their moods were just as good even when they experienced physical pain.

 

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Relationships and perception of pain -

When people who were in unhappy relationships felt physical pain, their emotional pain magnified it.

 

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Relationships and brain health -

Another lesson from the study was that good relationships are not only good for our bodies, but they are also good for our brains.

 

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Relationships and memory -

People who were in securely-attached relationships, one’s where they found that they could rely on their partners in times of need, held onto their memories for longer.

 

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Relationships and memory -

People who were in relationships and felt like they couldn't count on the other person experienced earlier memory decline.

 

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A good relationship doesn't mean constant harmony -

The kinds of relationships that affected people’s memories weren’t defined by constant harmony without any bickering. What was important was whether or not they felt like they could rely on the other person.

 

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You're never too old to make new friends -

The people who were happiest in their retirement in this study were the ones who had actively gone out to replace their workmates with new friends.

 

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An easy message to forget -

The message that "relationships are important" is as old as the hills, so why is it so easy to forget? The truth is that we are human, and we want quick fixes. Fostering good relationships is hard work, and it can be messy.

 

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Leaning into relationships -

The original participants thought that wealth and achievement would be a catalyst for their happiness. However, the research proved that people who fared the best and were happiest and healthiest were those who leaned into relationships, not work.