Harvard Study investigates keys to long-term happiness

The Harvard Study of Adult Development, led by psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Robert Waldinger, has conducted a unique longitudinal research project for 75 years to identify factors contributing to a healthy, fulfilling, and happy life.

Starting in 1938 with 724 subjects, the study initially tracked Harvard students and youths from humble backgrounds in the Boston suburbs. The research has expanded to include three consecutive generations, involving the spouses, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of the original participants. The findings aim to provide insights into human well-being that apply across different socioeconomic statuses and generations, from Baby Boomers to Generation Z.