Cultivating What Matters for Living Better
Briefly

The article emphasizes the vital role of social connections in human well-being, detailing that strong relationships significantly reduce risk to mortality similar to well-known health risks. Various studies, including a meta-analysis and the Harvard Study of Adult Development, highlight that quality relationships contribute not just to emotional health but also to longevity, suggesting that fostering connections should be a priority alongside other life goals. Ultimately, nurturing deep ties with others is portrayed as essential for meaning and fulfillment in life.
According to a large-scale meta-analysis of 148 studies involving more than 300,000 respondents, stronger social relationships were associated with a 50 percent reduction in the risk of mortality.
The Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest-running studies on human happiness, found that 'close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives.'
Social connection is essential for a life of meaning, purpose, and well-being, comparable to avoiding smoking and obesity in its effect on longevity.
Read at Psychology Today
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