What Actually Makes People Happy, According to Science

How to lead a happier and longer life. Check out our sponsor: to get matched with a professional therapist who will listen and help. ▀▀▀ A huge thanks to Prof. Robert Waldinger for all his help with this video. To learn more about what makes for a good life, visit: and A special thanks to Prof. Julianne Holt-Lunstad for her expert advice on the importance of social connections and the detrimental effects of loneliness and social isolation. ▀▀▀ Additional Videos: Family Reacts to Winning CA$1 Million Lotto, NowThisNews via YouTube - Woman claims to be $1 billion Powerball winner, KTLA 5 via YouTube - Old Lottery Winner Meets Young Lottery Winner | The Gap, LADbible TV via YouTube - Why eyewitnesses get it wrong - Scott Fraser, TED-Ed via Youtube - Surgeon General discusses health risks of loneliness and steps to help connect with others, PBS NewsHour via YouTube - ▀▀▀ References: Waldinger, R., & Schulz, M. (2023). The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness. Simon and Schuster. Lindqvist et al. (2020). Long-run effects of lottery wealth on psychological well-being. The Review of Economic Studies. - Wen et al. (2011). Minimum amount of physical activity for reduced mortality and extended life expectancy: a prospective cohort study. The lancet. - Nocon et al. (2008). Association of physical activity with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. - Blondell et al. (2014). Does physical activity prevent cognitive decline and dementia?: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. BMC public health. - Office of the Surgeon General. (2023). Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The US Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. - Holt-Lunstad et al. (2010). Social relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review. PLoS medicine. - Valtorta et al. (2016). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal observational studies. Heart. - Shovestul et al. (2020). Risk factors for loneliness: The high relative importance of age versus other factors. PloS one. - Donovan et al. (2017). Loneliness, depression and cognitive function in older US adults. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. - Lara et al. (2019). Does loneliness contribute to mild cognitive impairment and dementia? A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Ageing research reviews. - Holt-Lunstad et al. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspectives on psychological science. - McIntyre et al. (2015). Compulsive Internet use and relations between social connectedness, and introversion. Computers in Human Behavior. - Kahneman & Deaton. (2010). High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being. Proceedings of the national academy of sciences. - Killingsworth. (2021). Experienced well-being rises with income, even above $75,000 per year. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - Killingsworth et al. (2023). Income and emotional well-being: A conflict resolved. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - ▀▀▀ Special thanks to our Patreon supporters: Adam Foreman, Anton Ragin, Balkrishna Heroor, Bernard McGee, Bill Linder, Burt Humburg, Chris Harper, Dave Kircher, Diffbot, Evgeny Skvortsov, Gnare, John H. Austin, Jr., john kiehl, Josh Hibschman, Juan Benet, KeyWestr, Lee Redden, Marinus Kuivenhoven, Max Paladino, Meekay, meg noah, Michael Krugman, Orlando Bassotto, Paul Peijzel, Richard Sundvall, Sam Lutfi, Stephen Wilcox, Tj Steyn, TTST, Ubiquity Ventures ▀▀▀ Directed by Casper Mebius Written by Casper Mebius, Petr Lebedev, and Derek Muller Edited by Peter Nelson Animated by Fabio Albertelli and Ivy Tello Filmed by Derek Muller, Emily Zhang, and Zyan Treadwell Produced by Casper Mebius, Petr Lebedev, Han Evans, and Derek Muller Additional video/photos supplied by Getty Images and Storyblocks Music from Epidemic Sound Thumbnail by Ren Hurley