Purpose in life and health: how meaning is linked to longevity
Social ConnectionKey points
- Lowest life purpose: more than double the risk of death (adults 50+).
- The link between purpose and lower mortality appeared in young, middle-aged and older adults.
- Purpose is one of nine shared habits in the Blue Zones.
- Meaning can come from relationships, work, faith or helping others.
Why meaning matters for health
Purpose gives direction, helps people cope with stress and may motivate healthier behaviors.
What the research shows
Adults over 50. In the U.S. Health and Retirement Study, researchers followed 6,985 adults over 50 for about 4 years. Those with the lowest purpose scores were more than twice as likely to die during follow-up as those with the highest, particularly from cardiovascular causes (Alimujiang et al., 2019).
Across ages. In a national U.S. sample followed for 14 years, a greater sense of purpose predicted lower mortality in young, middle-aged and older adults alike (Hill & Turiano, 2014).
Blue Zones. Purpose is one of the nine habits described in long-lived communities (Buettner & Skemp, 2016).
How to find meaning day to day
- Reflect on what matters most to you.
- Help others: volunteer, mentor, care for family.
- Learn something new or create something.
- Connect with a community or faith tradition.
Caveat
These are observational studies, and purpose may partly reflect good health.
Frequently asked questions
Can purpose change over time?
Yes. Purpose often shifts with life stages: retirement, children leaving home or illness can be times to find new sources of meaning.
Does purpose have to be something big?
No. Caring for family, helping neighbors, learning or creating can all provide purpose.
Sources
- Alimujiang et al. (2019). Association Between Life Purpose and Mortality Among US Adults Older Than 50 Years. JAMA Network Open 2(5):e194270. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.4270
- Hill et al. (2014). Purpose in Life as a Predictor of Mortality Across Adulthood. Psychological Science 25(7):1482-1486. doi:10.1177/0956797614531799
- Buettner et al. (2016). Blue Zones. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine 10(5):318-321. doi:10.1177/1559827616637066
Keep reading
Social Connection Family meals: why eating together matters for health
What meta-analyses show about family meals, children’s weight, healthy eating and disordered eating, and how to make shared meals happen.
Social Connection How to support someone in crisis: five principles of psychological first aid
The five evidence-informed principles for supporting people after traumatic events, how to talk to someone in crisis and why asking about suicide does not increase risk.
Social Connection Volunteering and health: how helping others affects you
What systematic reviews and meta-analyses show about volunteering, depression, life satisfaction and mortality, and how to start without burning out.
Social Connection tools
Three-item loneliness scale (UCLA-3)
Three questions used in major U.S. studies of loneliness.
QuizDe Jong Gierveld loneliness scale (6 items)
Measures emotional and social loneliness.
QuizOslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3)
Three questions about who you can count on.
PDF · WorksheetMy connections map
A worksheet for mapping your social network and planning contact.
PDF · Tracker"One get-together a week" tracker
A monthly tracker of social contact.
PDF · CardsFamily dinner conversation cards
24 questions for phone-free conversation at the table.