www.theatlantic.com Open in urlscan Pro
199.232.194.133  Public Scan

Form analysis
1 forms found in the DOM

GET /search/

<form method="GET" action="/search/" class="SearchOverlay_searchForm__1TTta" data-action="search submit">
  <div class="SearchInput_root__E1N_g">
    <div class="VisuallyHidden_root__WzQ4K"><label for="search-input-:Rn6t8mm:">Search The Atlantic</label></div><button type="submit" title="Submit" class="SearchInput_searchButton__c98ik"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 16 16"
        aria-hidden="true" width="20">
        <path d="M15.85 15.15l-5.27-5.28a6 6 0 10-.71.71l5.28 5.27a.48.48 0 00.7 0 .48.48 0 000-.7zM1 6a5 5 0 115 5 5 5 0 01-5-5z"></path>
      </svg></button><input type="search" name="q" id="search-input-:Rn6t8mm:" class="SearchInput_searchInput__Dy47V SearchInput_hideClear__bvXSg" placeholder="Search The Atlantic..." autocomplete="off" required="" value="">
  </div>
  <div class="QuickLinks_quickLinksContainer__IX19J">
    <div class="QuickLinks_quickLinksHeading__bES_D">Quick Links</div>
    <ul class="QuickLinks_quickLinksList__bKAH1">
      <li class="QuickLinks_quickLinkListItem__hCl6j">
        <a class="QuickLinks_quickLink__dbVyv" href="/projects/dear-therapist/" data-action="click link - quick link" data-label="Dear Therapist"><img alt="Dear Therapist" loading="lazy" class="Image_root__d3aBr Image_lazy__tutlP QuickLinks_quickLinkImage__m_b_T" src="https://cdn.theatlantic.com/media/img/specialreports/lead/2020/10/14/Thumbnail.jpg" width="148" height="148"><div class="QuickLinks_quickLinkLabel__Ilkij">Dear Therapist</div></a>
      </li>
      <li class="QuickLinks_quickLinkListItem__hCl6j">
        <a class="QuickLinks_quickLink__dbVyv" href="/free-daily-crossword-puzzle/" data-action="click link - quick link" data-label="Crossword Puzzle"><img alt="Crossword Puzzle" loading="lazy" class="Image_root__d3aBr Image_lazy__tutlP QuickLinks_quickLinkImage__m_b_T" src="https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/files/nav-crossword.png" width="148" height="148"><div class="QuickLinks_quickLinkLabel__Ilkij">Crossword Puzzle</div></a>
      </li>
      <li class="QuickLinks_quickLinkListItem__hCl6j">
        <a class="QuickLinks_quickLink__dbVyv" href="/archive/" data-action="click link - quick link" data-label="Magazine Archive"><img alt="Magazine Archive" loading="lazy" class="Image_root__d3aBr Image_lazy__tutlP QuickLinks_quickLinkImage__m_b_T" src="https://cdn.theatlantic.com/media/files/archive-thumbnail.png" width="148" height="148"><div class="QuickLinks_quickLinkLabel__Ilkij">Magazine Archive</div></a>
      </li>
      <li class="QuickLinks_quickLinkListItem__hCl6j">
        <a class="QuickLinks_quickLink__dbVyv" href="https://accounts.theatlantic.com/accounts/subscription/" data-action="click link - quick link" data-label="Your Subscription"><img alt="Your Subscription" loading="lazy" class="Image_root__d3aBr Image_lazy__tutlP QuickLinks_quickLinkImage__m_b_T" src="https://cdn.theatlantic.com/media/files/YourSubscription_300x300.jpg" width="148" height="148"><div class="QuickLinks_quickLinkLabel__Ilkij">Your Subscription</div></a>
      </li>
    </ul>
  </div><button type="button" aria-label="Close Search" class="SearchOverlay_closeButton__EzGHT" data-action="close search"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="SearchOverlay_closeIcon__2NAOZ">
      <path d="M9.525 8l6.159 6.159a1.078 1.078 0 11-1.525 1.525L8 9.524l-6.159 6.16a1.076 1.076 0 01-1.525 0 1.078 1.078 0 010-1.525L6.476 8 .315 1.841A1.078 1.078 0 111.841.316L8 6.476l6.16-6.16a1.078 1.078 0 111.524 1.525L9.524 8z"
        fill-rule="evenodd"></path>
    </svg></button>
</form>

Text Content

WE VALUE YOUR PRIVACY

We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as cookies
and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information
sent by a device for personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement,
and audience insights, as well as to develop and improve products. With your
permission we and our partners may use precise geolocation data and
identification through device scanning. You may click to consent to our and our
partners’ processing as described above. Alternatively you may click to refuse
to consent or access more detailed information and change your preferences
before consenting. Please note that some processing of your personal data may
not require your consent, but you have a right to object to such processing.
Your preferences will apply to this website only. You can change your
preferences at any time by returning to this site or visit our privacy policy.
MORE OPTIONSI Do Not AcceptI Accept
Skip to content


SITE NAVIGATION

 * The Atlantic
 * PopularLatestNewsletters
   
   
   SECTIONS
   
    * Politics
    * Ideas
    * Fiction
    * Technology
    * Science
    * Photo
    * Business
    * Culture
    * Planet
    * Global
    * Books
    * Podcasts
    * Health
    * Education
    * Projects
    * Features
    * Family
    * Events
    * Shadowland
    * Progress
    * Newsletters
   
    * Explore The Atlantic Archive
    * Play The Atlantic crossword
   
   
   THE PRINT EDITION
   
   Latest IssuePast Issues
   
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
   Give a Gift
 * Search The Atlantic
   Quick Links
    * Dear Therapist
    * Crossword Puzzle
    * Magazine Archive
    * Your Subscription
   
   
 * Popular
 * Latest
 * Newsletters


 * Sign In
 * Subscribe




Pierre Buttin
Ideas


WHAT THE LONGEST STUDY ON HUMAN HAPPINESS FOUND IS THE KEY TO A GOOD LIFE

The Harvard Study of Adult Development has established a strong correlation
between deep relationships and well-being. The question is, how does a person
nurture those deep relationships?

By Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz
January 19, 2023
Share

This article was featured in One Story to Read Today, a newsletter in which our
editors recommend a single must-read from The Atlantic, Monday through Friday.
Sign up for it here.      

Turn your mind for a moment to a friend or family member you cherish but don’t
spend as much time with as you would like. This needn’t be your most significant
relationship, just someone who makes you feel energized when you’re with them,
and whom you’d like to see more regularly.

How often do you see that person? Every day? Once a month? Once a year? Do the
math and project how many hours annually you spend with them. Write this number
down and hang on to it.

This article is adapted from Waldinger and Schulz’s new book.

For us, Bob and Marc, though we work closely together and meet every week by
phone or video call, we see each other in person for only a total of about two
days (48 hours) every year.

How does this add up for the coming years? Bob is 71 years old. Marc is 60.
Let’s be (very) generous and say we will both be around to celebrate Bob’s 100th
birthday. At two days a year for 29 years, that’s 58 days that we have left to
spend together in our lifetimes.

Fifty-eight out of 10,585 days.

Of course, this is assuming a lot of good fortune, and the real number is almost
certainly going to be lower.

Since 1938, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has been investigating what
makes people flourish. After starting with 724 participants—boys from
disadvantaged and troubled families in Boston, and Harvard undergraduates—the
study incorporated the spouses of the original men and, more recently, more than
1,300 descendants of the initial group. Researchers periodically interview
participants, ask them to fill out questionnaires, and collect information about
their physical health. As the study’s director (Bob) and associate director
(Marc), we’ve been able to watch participants fall in and out of relationships,
find success and failure at their jobs, become mothers and fathers. It’s the
longest in-depth longitudinal study on human life ever done, and it’s brought us
to a simple and profound conclusion: Good relationships lead to health and
happiness. The trick is that those relationships must be nurtured.



From the June 2009 issue: What makes us happy?

We don’t always put our relationships first. Consider the fact that the average
American in 2018 spent 11 hours every day on solitary activities such as
watching television and listening to the radio. Spending 58 days over 29 years
with a friend is infinitesimal compared with the 4,851 days that Americans will
spend interacting with media during that same time period. Distractions are hard
to avoid.

Information
To read the full story, 
start your free trial today.
Close

Never miss a story. Start your free trial.

Uncompromising quality. Enduring impact.
Your support ensures a bright future for independent journalism.

Get Started

Already have an account? Sign in.

The Good Life: Lessons From the World's Longest Scientific Study of
HappinessRobert Waldinger and Marc Schulz, Simon and Schuster
Buy Book