Nearly three in five young adults (58 percent) say they lack a sense of purpose, according to a fall 2023 report by Harvard Graduate School of Education. The report went on to note that an absence of life meaning was also the top driver of high rates of mental health issues like anxiety and depression in the same population. As further contextualization, half of young adults said “not knowing what to do with my life” had negatively impacted their mental health.
Young adults are not alone. Four in 10 American adults reportedly have not discovered their life purpose, and 25 percent don’t have a strong sense of what makes their life meaningful.
The search for fulfillment is worth it, though, and the reward can be great. If in doubt, check out these three newly uncovered benefits from the latest research.
Protection Against Loneliness and Its Health Dangers
Loneliness, now an epidemic, poses more health dangers than smoking or obesity. Social isolation increases a person’s risks of anxiety, depression, mental illness, and suicidality; it also makes them more prone to heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and unhealthy drug and alcohol use.
A 2023 study co-authored by researchers at the University of Washington in St. Louis revealed an encouraging trend, though. A purposeful life correlated with lower levels of loneliness, regardless of age. In a survey of 2,300 adults, those who said they had a sense of purpose were less lonely.
Lead co-author and associate professor of psychological and brain sciences, Dr. Patrick Hill, defined a “sense of purpose” as “a general perception that you have something leading and directing you from one day to the next.”
What the researchers found out confirmed this understanding of purpose. It could be as simple as a meaningful hobby (yoga, gardening, creative writing, etc.) Purpose did not have to come from participation in some big, lofty cause (although it could be that as well).
More Success in Love (or on Dating Apps)
More recently, a different research team at the University of Washington in St. Louis set out to explore another potential reason to develop a sense of purpose. Can it improve your love life or at least make you more attractive on dating apps? the researchers wondered.
Sure enough, those whose dating profiles mentioned a sense of purpose scored higher on various scales for attractiveness than those whose profiles made no mention of purpose. In other words, sharing your life purpose on a dating profile may make you more of a hot item. The lead researcher of the study shared this unique matchmaking advice: If you’re looking for love, try finding your life purpose.
A Longer, Healthier, and Happier Life
Other recent studies have landed on still other great reasons to have a sense of purpose. Some of their findings may come as a surprise. More purpose correlates with better sleep, lower stress levels, a stronger immune system, better cognitive function, and more longevity.
While a sense of purpose is often crucial to a happy and healthy life, the search for it can sometimes be overwhelming. See if you can break it down into smaller, more manageable increments. Trying to find one’s purpose overnight is a ridiculously tall order, not to mention stressful, but at the more gradual pace of one day at a time, it can be a fun and rewarding discovery. Enjoy the process, by trying new things, exploring your values, and engaging in service and creative expression.
