Having "a purpose in life" is the secret to longevity?

Adults who spoke of having a purpose in life are more likely to live longer, psychologists claim. According to their 14-year study of 6,000 adults across America, adults who filled their days with activity rather than contemplate doing nothing after giving up work lived much longer than those who considered themselves "aimless" and did nothing.

Having a purpose in life could mean anything like getting involved in voluntary work or taking on a long term project or doing anything interesting. What the purpose is does not matter, just to feel there is one could be enough, said the researchers from Carleton University in Canada.

The researchers said that this may be because those who have aims, even in middle or old age, are more likely to adopt a healthier lifestyle in order to fulfill such ambitions. But the younger they are when they set these targets, the more likely they are to start leading a healthier lifestyle earlier.

"Finding a direction for life, and setting overarching goals for what you want to achieve, can help you actually live longer, regardless of when you find your purpose. So the earlier someone comes to a direction for life, the earlier these protective effects may be able to occur," Assistant Professor Patrick Hill said.

The study is published in the journal Psychological Science.