According to a study published in the journal Health Psychology, there’s a unique “social link between happiness, and health among older adults.” It’s no shock that being with a happy person might make you happy too. We all know this, but now there’s scientific proof!
The study surveyed 1,981 middle-aged couples and found that having a happy partner relates directly to your own physical health. The participants in this study were asked to answer specific questions. These questions were focused specifically around their own health. They were also asked to rate their own happiness and life satisfaction. The results showed that “people with happy spouses were much more likely to report better health over time.”
It’s more than just feeling good emotionally… your relationship can make you feel good physically too. Who wouldn’t want that?
William Chopik, PhD wanted to take this research a step further. He wanted to explore “the health effects of interpersonal relationships.” He came up with three reasons for why having a happy partner relates to good health.
- “Happy partners likely provide stronger social support…”
- “Happy partners may get unhappy people involved with activities and environments that promote good health…”
- “Being with a happy partner should make a person’s life easier even if not explicitly happier.”
Your happy partner is going to focus on you! This study helps prove that being in a happy relationship can make you feel cared for. The person you’re with has a genuine concern for your wellbeing and works to make sure you’re feeling good.
William Chopik stated, “Simply knowing that one’s partner is satisfied with his or her individual circumstances may temper a person’s need to seek self-destructive outlets, such as drinking or drugs, and may more generally offer contentment in ways that afford health benefits down the road.”
Knowing your partner’s happy in the relationship, makes you happy. What does this mean? Questioning your spouses happiness may be the reason you feel bad emotionally and physically. Make sure the relationship you choose to be in is worth it. If not, it’ll do more bad than good.
