VANCOUVER, May 16 — Finding a sense of purpose and direction in life can do more than bring you fulfilment — it can also add years to your life, finds a new study.
And good news for those who may still be floating aimlessly through life: Researchers say it’s never too late to go out looking for your calling and reap its health benefits.
“Our 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,” said lead researcher Patrick Hill of Carleton University in Canada.
That said, the earlier a person finds their calling, passion, or raison d’etre, so to speak, the earlier these protective effects may occur, he added.
Published in Psychological Science, the study looked at data from 6,000 participants who answered a series of questions.
Participants were asked to rate statements such as “Some people wander aimlessly through life, but I am not one of them,” and were evaluated based on their relations with others and their experience with positive and negative emotions.
Over the 14-year follow-up period, nine per cent (569) of the participants had died. And those who died had reported a lower purpose in life and fewer positive relations than survivors.
Conversely, those who reported having a strong sense of direction — whether they were young or middle-aged and older — were at reduced risk of mortality, the study found.
“These findings suggest that there’s something unique about finding a purpose that seems to be leading to greater longevity,” says Hill.
Previous research has also found that seniors who lead full, active and purposeful lives are less likely to develop age-related cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s. — AFP/Relaxnews
