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Studies in older adults suggest that having purpose in life can add years to longevity. Is the same true of younger people? Researchers analyzed self-reported data on purpose in life, positive relationships with others, and positive and negative affective states in 6163 individuals aged 20 to 75 (mean age, 47; 52% female; 91% white) who were participating in a national, population-based study. Purpose in life was assessed by subjects' agreement on a 7-point scale with three statements: “Some people wander aimlessly through life, but I am not one of them”; “I live life one day at a time and don't really think about the future”; and “I sometimes feel as if I've done all there is to do in life.”
At 14-year follow-up, 569 individuals had died (9…