Happiness and its influence on health and longevity

Have you ever stopped to think: what is happiness anyway? What really brings you well-being? 87 years ago, Harvard researchers began one of the most important longitudinal studies ever conducted in the United States. For decades, they followed the trajectory of young people - some students at the university itself and others living in low-income neighborhoods in Boston. At each stage, the objective was the same: to discover which factors support a happier and healthier life. The central finding may sound simple, but it is profound: the quality of relationships is the main determinant of happiness, health and longevity.

The book A good life: how to live with more meaning and fulfillment brings these findings together in an engaging way. In it, authors Marc Schulz and Robert Waldinger report on the results of the Harvard Adult Development Study, the longest ever conducted on happiness and well-being. The book shows, through real stories, that it is never too late to strengthen bonds and that quality relationships have a direct impact on mental and physical health.

In recent decades, the subject has ceased to be just a field of philosophy and has gained ground status scientific, consolidating the so-called Happiness Science or the “science of happiness”. Prestigious universities already offer specific courses on the subject, and international journals such as Journal of Happiness Studies, have been gathering increasingly robust research.

There are different ways of understanding happiness. One focuses on cognitive dimensions such as life satisfaction, pleasurable experiences and positive emotions. Another perspective examines the processes that underpin healthy psychological functioning: purpose, personal growth, cultivation of virtues, optimism, hope, resilience and self-determination.

However, everyday life constantly exposes us to challenges, losses and emotional tensions, which can affect our sense of well-being. When these situations are prolonged, keeping the body in a state of “fight or flight”, physical and psychological wear and tear occurs. The hormone cortisol is considered the central link between chronic stress and illness, and is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, depression, anxiety and even lower life expectancy.

The absence of social ties deepens this scenario. A longitudinal study carried out in the United Kingdom (2017-2021) showed that loneliness is not only a consequence of unhappiness, but also of one of its direct causes, This significantly reduces life satisfaction. Other research shows that a lack of solid connections increases the risk of early death by 50% - an impact comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and even more harmful than obesity or a sedentary lifestyle. In another study, conducted in Sweden with elderly people over 75, those who maintained good relationships with family and friends had a much lower risk of developing dementia.

More gratitude, less mortality

Another powerful resource is spirituality, especially when experienced through gratitude. A study published in July 2024 in the JAMA Psychiatry, The study, involving more than 49,000 elderly women, revealed that those with higher levels of gratitude had a 9% lower risk of mortality over the following four years, even after controlling for factors such as physical health, economic situation and psychological well-being. Gratitude therefore proved to be a real protective factor against cardiovascular disease, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Positive psychology and the science of well-being offer simple but effective strategies for cultivating happiness in everyday life. These include:

• regular physical activity - walking, cycling, running or resistance exercise releases neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which improve mood. It is recommended that you dedicate at least 30 minutes to moderate activity, five times a week;
• valuing small daily pleasures - taking time to enjoy a cup of coffee, watch the sunset or listen to a favorite song helps to neutralize the setbacks of the day and increases the feeling of well-being;
• simplify choices - too many options can lead to regret and anxiety. Reducing the number of daily decisions brings clarity and lightness, which is why meditation practices and spiritual retreats adopt simplified routines.

May reflection on the theme of happiness be an invitation for us to be more active, broaden our friendships, strengthen emotional bonds and seek new purposes. May we never lose our willingness to learn, share experiences and do good. And may gratitude be part of our routine, reminding us that it is in offering something to others that we find a more lasting and profound form of happiness, one that illuminates not only our days, but also our souls.

Luís Gustavo Mariotti is a doctor specializing in Geriatrics at the Escola Paulista de Medicina, with a specialty in Palliative Medicine, and coordinator of the Palliative Care Department of the Associação Médico-Espírita do Brasil (AME-Brasil).

Suggested reading

SCHULZ, Marc; WALDINGER, Robert. A good life: how to live with more meaning and fulfillment. Rio de Janeiro: Sextante, 2023.