Connections Between Life Purpose and Health

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Life purpose is defined as having a sense of meaning, as well as a direction toward particular goals. Having a purpose in life is considered to be an aspect of psychological well-being and has also been studied for its connection to physical health. Having a purpose can help people respond to stress more effectively, as well as regulate their emotions and behaviors. Purpose can change across the lifespan as people are exposed to different social groups and experiences. Regardless of how a person finds purpose, having a strong life mission may be an important component of healthy aging. Indeed, purpose has been associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and all-cause mortality.

Healthy Lifestyle Habits

There seems to be a close relationship between life purpose, healthy behaviors, and health outcomes. People with a life purpose likely value their health because greater vitality helps them to make more effective progress toward their goals. Sedentary adults who were unsure about making changes to their health were studied using functional MRIs. When participants were exposed to messages about exercise, those with a stronger life purpose exhibited less activity in the parts of the brain responsible for processing conflict. This finding means they were less likely to feel conflicted about beginning an exercise program, potentially because they had greater clarity on how their behaviors aligned with their values. Having a clear sense of personal values and purpose has been shown to decrease impulsivity during the decision-making process in favor of choices that lead to long-term benefits. People with a strong sense of purpose may engage in healthy behaviors such as going on a walk after dinner instead of giving into temporary comforts such as lounging on the couch and watching television..

The Health and Retirement Study cohort has been used for a number of different studies on the connection between purpose and health. Studies of this population have found that higher purpose is correlated with increased physical activity, higher levels of self-rated health, and lower blood sugar markers. Those with the highest sense of purpose had a “46% reduced risk of all-cause mortality and a 43% reduced risk of depression”. A separate study reported a 33% decreased risk of sleep problems, 22% reduced risk of developing an unhealthy body mass index (BMI), and a 24% reduced risk of becoming sedentary for participants who scored within the highest level of purpose using a well-being questionnaire. A nationwide survey of health professionals in Japan found that 90% of respondents reported following a healthy diet and 64% exercised regularly. There was a significant correlation between these lifestyle factors and having a purpose in life.

People with a strong life purpose are also more likely to seek out preventive healthcare services, which allows them to be more proactive with their health as they age. People with a sense of purpose have been shown to schedule regular screenings such as mammograms, prostate exams, and colonoscopies.

Stress, Emotional Regulation, and Cognition

Stress can negatively impact quality of life and well-being. However, having a purpose may help us better respond to daily stressors because we are focused on overarching goals in life. In a study of older adults who were exposed to an acute stressor, having a sense of purpose was predictive of recovery from stress and a return to baseline cortisol levels.

While we cannot always eliminate all sources of stress, having a life purpose can help us to reframe stress and regulate our emotions so we can remain resilient during difficult times. In a study using an emotional regulation questionnaire, individuals that scored high in reappraisal had a lower BMI and fewer depressive symptoms, while those who suppressed their emotions were more likely to smoke and reported more depressive symptoms. Emotional regulation was also associated with lower C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation.

Having a sense of purpose can predict the number of positive events that are experienced in a day. Positive affect, or the propensity to experience positive emotions, was found to be less pronounced in adults with a sense of purpose. This correlation may demonstrate that although people with a greater sense of purpose are more likely to recognize positive events throughout the day, they are more even-keeled in their response to these events. Instead of being overly influenced by either positive or negative circumstances, they are instead focused on the bigger picture.

Purpose provides people with a sense of coherence, meaning they have structure, consistency, and feel that life challenges are worth addressing. This sense of coherence can help to protect against depression, morbidity, and a decline in the ability to perform activities of daily living. This is important in maintaining a sense of independence during the aging process. Those with depression may be less likely to engage in activities that give their life meaning. On the other hand, having a strong sense of purpose may inspire people to continue to be involved in activities that help them reach their goals and maintain healthy cognition as they age. A study of older adults demonstrated that greater purpose was predictive of word recall and helped protect against the negative effects of depressive symptoms on memory.

Purpose and Interpersonal Relationships

We can derive purpose from a variety of things such as careers, relationships, personal growth, and helping others in the community. In a study of working adults, coaches were found to derive purpose from helping others. The longer they had worked, the more they also derived purpose from their career. Maternal attachment correlated to purpose in young adults from the Nurses’ Health Study II and Growing Up Today Study.

Hedonic well-being is related to positive feelings, while eudaimonic well-being involves relationships with others as well as personal development. In a study of healthy adults, those with greater levels of hedonic well-being had upregulated genetic expression related to the stress response and inflammation, while eudaimonic well-being was associated with reduced genetic expression in these areas. In a separate study, women with higher eudaimonic well-being had lower salivary cortisol levels as well as lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6). They also had longer rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Positive relationships were negatively correlated with HbA1c, a blood sugar marker, and the waist-to-hip ratio. Having a purpose in life and valuing personal growth were positively correlated with HDL, or “good” cholesterol.

Social capital, which is defined as trust of other members of the community, is positively associated with life satisfaction and purpose. The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) study found that cynical distrust of others, as well as chronic stress, can increase levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and IL-6. College students from Cornell University were less likely to perceive changes in social status as a result of early COVID-19 campus shutdowns if they had a stronger sense of purpose. A study of patients who attended a dementia diagnostic appointment with a caregiver showed that both the patient and caregiver experienced declines in purpose regardless of the diagnosis that was given. Caregivers were found to underestimate the patient’s sense of purpose both before and after the appointment. While patients experiencing cognitive decline may worry about their ability to plan for the future, it is important for their caregivers and families to not make assumptions about their goals or evolving purpose.

As previously explored, people may derive purpose from their relationships, and these interpersonal relationships can influence health behaviors over time. While parents may have greater influence over a child’s health during childhood, peer groups are more impactful in adolescence with romantic partners and families becoming more of a priority in adulthood. Relationships with others can either negatively or positively impact health behaviors. Individuals may be more likely to engage in healthy behaviors if their spouse or family member is healthy. However, having an obese friend or family member also increases the likelihood that a person will be obese. In this way, our personal relationships can serve as a powerful source of purpose as well as a determinant of health.

Closing Thoughts

  • People with a greater sense of purpose are more likely to engage in healthy habits, but it can be difficult to develop purpose if you are unclear on your values. Exploring personal values and developing goals can be helpful in finding your purpose.
  • Having a sense of life purpose can be used to assess health and well-being over time and may be an important factor of healthy aging.
  • We can find purpose from a variety of sources such as career, relationships, and personal development. Sources of purpose may change over time as we age and our environments change.
  • Our relationships with others can be quite impactful. It is important to foster trust within communities as well as consider how our relationships with friends and family influence the decisions we make about our health.

If you have questions about your mental or physical health, talk to your doctor, mental health practitioner, or another member of your healthcare team for personal options based on your individual circumstances.

 

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