The secret to long life could be as simple as having something to do, psychologists claim.
They found adults who spoke of having a purpose in life were more likely to still be around at the end of a 14 year study than those who considered themselves ‘aimless.’
For those about to retire, for instance, it suggests they will live longer if they filled their days with activity rather than contemplate doing nothing after giving up work.
It could be getting involved in voluntary work or taking on a long term project or even ticking off a bucket list that extends their longevity.
What the purpose is does not matter, just to feel there is one could be enough, said the researchers from Carleton University in Canada.
This may be because those who have aims, even in middle or old age, are more likely to adopt a healthier lifestyle in order to fulfill such ambitions.
But the younger they are when they set these targets, the more likely they are to start leading a healthier lifestyle earlier, it added.
Assistant Professor Patrick Hill looked at a 14-year study of 6,000 adults across America.
He said: ‘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.’
At the start of the study, the 6,000 people were interviewed about whether or not their lives had a purpose and their positive or negative attitudes to relationships and emotions.
At the end of the 14 year study, nine per cent of the group had died, and were more likely to have been those reporting a lack of purpose and with more negative emotions and relationships.
Dr Hill added: ‘There are a lot of reasons to believe that being purposeful might help protect older adults more so than younger ones.
‘For instance, adults might need [more of a sense of direction] after they have left the workplace and lost that source for organising their daily events.’
But he added that having a purpose can also predict a longer life for younger adults.
He said: ‘These findings suggest that there’s something unique about finding a purpose that seems to be leading to greater longevity.’
The study is published in the journal Psychological Science.
