The secret to good health? LOVE according to Harvard study

[Pinker85]

Over nearly 80 years, Harvard study has been showing how to live a healthy and happy life – Harvard Gazette

“When we gathered together everything we knew about them about at age 50, it wasn’t their middle-age cholesterol levels that predicted how they were going to grow old,” said Waldinger in a popular TED Talk. “It was how satisfied they were in their relationships. The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80.”

 

[Hermit of the Forest]

“Close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives, the study revealed. Those ties protect people from life’s discontents, help to delay mentaland physical decline, and are better predictors of long and happy lives than social class, IQ, or even genes.”

How wonderful.

 

[jennaauthor]

Exactly! Love is the secret to good health.

 

[Peter Deadpan]

Why do you think people with a childhood or lifetime of interpersonal trauma and neglect or abuse are so miserable and die younger? Attitude is helpful, but we've seen how these things physically change the structure of the human brain.

Everything is connected, and companionship and love are essential for even fairly asocial humans.

 

[Morpeko]

Well, I guess I'll never be healthy.

 

[Grusdytre]

You will be! Don't underestimate your capabilities. You will be healthy like them also.

 

[Lark]

Over nearly 80 years, Harvard study has been showing how to live a healthy and happy life – Harvard Gazette

“When we gathered together everything we knew about them about at age 50, it wasn’t their middle-age cholesterol levels that predicted how they were going to grow old,” said Waldinger in a popular TED Talk. “It was how satisfied they were in their relationships. The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80.”

This comes as absolutely no surprise to me given the amount of research I've done in attachment theory (and consequent life course chances/development) on the one hand and formulations or research into intrinsic psychological needs/health relating to connections and relatedness.

The mind-body relationship is very strong, so psychological well being/euthymia-dysthymia has physical consequences. Its a bigger deal than preference patterns for company or solitary pursuits.

Although, I've read some interesting things about connections or relatedness which is solitary in character, for instance via media or culture, those that feel a strong connection but to a restricted media or limited mono-culture, particularly if its combined with feels of threat or siege, are liable to all sorts of illness.

 

[J. Starke]

Also having someone around who loves you comes in handy when you're actually sick because they will take care of you. Being sick alone is not fun.