Psychological research is unequivocal about the fact that having close, emotionally intimate relationships with other people is of the utmost importance for emotional and psychological health. The Mid-Life in the United States (MIDUS) study, lead by researchers from North Dakota State University, collected personality data on over 7,000 American adults between 20 and 75 years of age to look at the impact of various psychosocial factors on their lives. Having positive relations with others was very important to psychological health and resilience, and became more so with age.
Key Takeaways:
- Someone who rates high in generativity feels a sense of connection and concern over members of younger generations.
- One study showed that over a long period of time, people who rate high in personal growth also rate high in personal relations.
- The quality of personal relationships matters more than the actual number of relationships.
“You may long for closeness to another person or a larger support group, but not be able to establish these strong bonds.”