Starting in 1938, a Harvard Study began looking into the secret of happiness in retirement. Every two years, researchers asked 700+ people about their level of happiness as they entered mid and late life. Today, just as 86 years ago, the top retirement challenge people face is how to make friends in retirement. After we stop working, we begin to realize most of our social connections were through our job. Luckily, numerous studies are showing not only the importance of social connections but how to make friends later in life to enjoy greater happiness.
For example, research in the Mathers Institute’s landmark Age Well Study found older adults who choose a Life Plan Community – like Friendship Village Tempe – reported more social connections, greater happiness and a better quality of life than did those who choose to remain in their home.
Life Plan Communities Boost Social Connections and Overall Life Satisfaction
Designed in collaboration with Northwestern University, the Age Well Study is the only national longitudinal study evaluating the impact of living in a Life Plan Community on residents’ cognitive, physical and psychosocial health and well-being. When the survey was launched in 2018, it focused on three components of overall health:
- Self-reported health
- Physical activity
- Healthy diet
An important part of the Age Well Study was documenting what activities and programs had the biggest impact on the components of better health.
Age Well Study Results
In year three, researchers focused on factors associated with resident happiness and life satisfaction, including better physical and mental health, along with more positive social interactions. Here’s what the study found about the importance of building relationships after retirement:
- Social Wellness: Social wellness emphasizes creating and maintaining healthy relationships by talking, sharing interests and actively participating in social events. Among residents, 69% reported that moving to a Life Plan Community “somewhat” or “greatly improved” their social wellness.
- Social cohesion: Community residents with a greater sense of social cohesion with those around them reported being happier and more satisfied with life.
- Community belonging: Residents with a greater sense of being part of a community were happier and more satisfied with life.
The latest report from the study examines changes in the health and wellness of residents over five years compared to older adults from the community at large. Here’s what their findings discovered:
- Better overall health: During the five years of the study, Life Plan Community residents continued to report better physical, emotional, intellectual, social and vocational wellness than their community-at-large counterparts did.
- More connections: From year one to five, community residents reported their social contacts had significantly increased.
Taken together, the Harvard Study and the Age Well Study show the importance of social interactions to not only our happiness but our overall health.
At Friendship Village, Friendship Is More Than a Name
Where you retire can have a big impact on your overall happiness, but it can be hard to know what the lifestyle will be like before you move. To help you learn more about our friendly community, you can read the latest story of friendship in The Tempe Tribune. This blog post is also another excellent way to get to know us. Of course, the best way to get a feel for our lifestyle is to attend one of our events. You’ll learn more about our community and philosophy while also making new friends. Or, if you’re ready to come for a visit, use our Community Assistant chat feature or contact us here.