Psychologists have recently found that the key to a long life could be simply to have a sense of purpose.
This research was published in the journal “Psychological Science,” a journal of the Association of Psychological Science.
The new research has clear motives for promoting adult development. Lead researcher, Patrick Hill, said in a press release that: “findings point to the fact that finding a direction for life, and setting overarching goals for what you want to achieve can help you actually live longer, regardless of when you find your purpose, so the earlier someone comes to a direction for life, the earlier these protective effects may be able to occur.”
Early studies have shown that having a sense of purpose has lowered the risks of mortality as well as predict longevity.
No research has yet shown whether these effects vary over time. According to The Daily Mail, the adults that were observed during the 14 year study were more likely to “be around” at the end of the study if they had a sense of purpose compared to those who seemed “aimless.”
At the end of the study, nine percent of the group being studied had died. Those is the group that had died were more likely to have reported a lack of purpose.
Hill continued to say that, “These findings suggest that there's something unique about finding a purpose that seems to be leading to greater longevity.”