The Harvard Study of Adult Development followed a large population of adults for eight decades uncovering what contributed most to their well-being and happiness.
The study found caring for your health and building loving relationships contributed the most to health and happiness.
- Professional success does not guarantee happiness; rather, the quality of relationships matters most.
- Loneliness is common but fostering social connections and regularly practicing social skills reduces it.
- The findings highlight the importance of social skills and cultivating relationships to achieve happiness.
The study's happiest participants had two major factors in common throughout its 85 years: taking care of their health and building loving relationships with others. —Medscape
Why it matters
Social skills and cultivating relationships are essential for achieving happiness.
- Loneliness is increasingly common and creates challenges when dealing with stressful situations.
- Maintaining relationships requires practice, just like physical fitness.
- Activities encouraging camaraderie, such as sports, hobbies, and volunteering, help expand relationships network.
The takeaway
Happiness is not constant, but it’s never too late to improve it by developing new relationships and experiences.
Social media almost always shows the positive side of people's lives and suggests that everyone lives worry-free. However, the truth is that no one's life is free of difficulties and challenges. Social skills contribute to resilience. —Medscape
Healthy hearing is crucial for happiness
Left untreated, hearing loss erodes the quality of our relationships with family and friends. As a result, it obstructs our ability to experience happiness.
Call to schedule a free, 15-minute hearing screening with an audiologist. Don't guess about hearing loss. Find out.
If you have hearing loss, your audiologist will explain —
- How much hearing you've lost
- Whether your hearing needs treatment
- The hearing-aid options available to treat your hearing loss
Don't let hearing loss stop you from the joys of conversation and connections.
Crest Hill: 630-633-5060 | Palos Hills: 708-599-9500
