To achieve this ambitious goal, the researchers carefully selected 724 young people from diverse backgrounds to be the subjects of the lengthy study. Among them were 268 Harvard-educated 19-year-olds, all of whom were poor and thin, mostly from wealthy families, and who were in the prime of life and had bright futures.
The other 456 were 11- to 16-year-olds from Boston's slums, who had endured hardships since childhood, struggling to survive in difficult circumstances.
The years flew by, rocket-like. When we retrace those eventful years, we will find that these immature teenagers are now walking on their own unique life path.
Some have successfully shaken off the shackles of class and integrated into high society; Some met their soulmates and formed a warm and happy family; There are also some people who fall because of violations of law and discipline and end their lives early with regret.
Different life trajectories determine that they play different social roles. Some people became low-level laborers such as workers and waiters, while others achieved decent jobs such as doctors and lawyers with their extraordinary intelligence.
Regardless of their status, they are still important subjects of research, bringing valuable data to the mystery of longevity.
80 years of perseverance finally came to fruition
Time flies like a white horse, and 80 years have passed in a flash.
As an introverted and shy person, Robert was very fond of the findings. For years, he often lamented that his friends were far from being able to communicate with him, but now scientists finally have conclusive data to explain the difference.
Robert recalls his upbringing, and has mixed feelings. Since he was a child, he rarely took the initiative to make new friends, and most of the time others took the initiative to talk to him. And those who are active and extroverted, whether at school or in the community, always have a large number of playmates.
Robert smiled shyly, as if he had gained a new knowledge and understanding of his character. He is extremely pleased that many years of research work have finally come to a satisfactory conclusion.
Networking affects the length of life
Through this fruitful long-term follow-up study, the researchers found a surprising fact: compared to those who are introverted and socially averse, those who love to socialize and build stable intimate relationships tend to maintain relatively young and energetic brain and body functions as they enter middle and old age, significantly delaying the aging process.
The reason for this difference is that good relationships promote the production of endorphins, which in turn reduce the painful experiences and feelings of stress we face.
Over time, this state of happiness will make it easier for people to enjoy the beauty of life, the risk of disease will be greatly reduced, and the immunity will be enhanced.
It reminds me of the world's oldest record holder who has persisted to this day, Indonesian villager Mba Godo. Despite being born into a poor family, she has always had a very close relationship with her family and friends.
Perhaps it is the support of this network that allows her to maintain her vigorous vitality in the simple environment of the countryside, and finally reach the age of 146.
In addition to family and friends, friendships and social networks also play an important role in healthy life expectancy. Famous psychologists Jell Urkaf and Willie Wood have jointly proposed the "relationship pyramid" theory, which explains in detail the development of high-quality interpersonal relationships.
It mainly consists of four stages: cognitive orientation, emotional exploration, emotional communication, and stable communication. In this process, we need to learn about ourselves and others, and we also need to learn to expose ourselves to expand the level of intimacy.
Social isolation accelerates aging
On the other hand, if a person is in a state of social isolation for a long time, it is easy to accelerate the aging process. The Harvard University research team found in long-term observation that those young people who are naturally introverted and withdrawn tend to have significant brain and physical decline earlier than their peers after entering middle age or even old age.
A study from the University of California found that older adults with rich social lives had a much lower risk of developing dementia than lonely older adults. Another study showed that people with social anxiety disorder were 70% more likely to die from all causes.
I can't help but sigh that the network of relationships between people is like the root system of the tree of life, and the rich and deep network can make the branches and leaves evergreen and fruitful.
If a person is completely cut off from this net, it will be difficult for him to survive the fate of shrinking and withering.
Happiness is the medicine that prolongs life
First of all, having a happy heart will definitely enhance the quality of life. A person who is optimistic and full of expectations for life can easily feel the beauty of life, and then establish a positive attitude and emotional experience towards life, and maintain a sunny attitude.
Take myself as an example, whenever I encounter setbacks and difficulties, as long as I think of the love and support of my family and friends, I will feel unprecedented warmth and strength in my heart, and my negative emotions will disappear.
I had a chance conversation with a 130-year-old man living in Talan Bay.
At that time, the old man's slightly vicissitudes of life revealed tranquility and happiness.
He told me that although he had lived a poor and simple life all his life, he felt the fulfillment and happiness of life with his optimistic and open-minded attitude and harmonious relationship with his family and friends, which is the foundation of longevity.