Purpose & Health
The University's newest research division, dedicated to the evidence-based study of how a sense of purpose shapes physical and mental health — from longevity and the brain to sleep, preventive care, and well-being.
The University of Hamilton Center community
What We Mean by Purpose
A self-organized direction that gives life meaning
Psychologists define purpose in life as a stable sense of direction and meaning — a self-organized set of life aims that gives the sense that one's life matters (Ryff, 1989). Purpose is not a single job or goal; it is the through-line that makes daily activities feel coherent and worthwhile.
In Carol Ryff's influential model of psychological well-being, purpose is one of six dimensions of positive functioning — alongside self-acceptance, personal growth, positive relationships, environmental mastery, and autonomy (Ryff & Keyes, 1996). A growing body of peer-reviewed research now shows that this inner sense of purpose is not only good for the mind: it is measurably good for the body.
“Purpose is not a destination. It is the orientation of a life — and, as the evidence shows, a healthier one.”
An Interactive Tool
Discover Your Learning Style
A learning style is the way you naturally take in, process, and remember information. Based on Neil Fleming's VARK model, most people lean toward one of four styles — Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, or Kinesthetic. There is no best style; each is simply a different doorway into the same understanding.
Visual Learner
You learn best when you can see information. Diagrams, charts, images, and color-coded notes help you absorb and remember material.
Auditory Learner
You learn best by hearing and discussing. Lectures, conversations, and audio recordings help you process information.
Reading/Writing Learner
You learn best through text. Reading articles, taking detailed notes, and writing summaries helps you understand and retain information.
Kinesthetic Learner
You learn best by doing. Hands-on practice, real-world application, and physical engagement help you internalize information.
Take the Assessment
1. You need to learn a new process at work. You'd prefer to:
2. When following directions to a new place, you:
3. In a meeting, you remember information best when:
4. You're trying to understand a new concept. What helps most?
5. When studying for a test, you tend to:
6. You're learning to use new software. You:
7. When someone gives you instructions, you're most likely to:
8. You remember a new coworker's name best when:
Answer all 8 questions to see your result.
The Health Benefits
What the Evidence Shows
Decades of peer-reviewed research link a stronger sense of purpose to concrete, measurable health outcomes.
Longer Life
A sense of purpose predicts lower all-cause mortality across adulthood, even after controlling for age, health status, and personality.
(Hill & Turiano, 2014; Alimujiang et al., 2019)
Brain & Cognitive Health
Older adults with higher purpose show a reduced risk of disability and greater resilience to age-related cognitive decline.
(Boyle et al., 2009)
Better Sleep
Purpose in life is associated with a lower incidence of sleep disturbances and more restful sleep over time.
(Kim et al., 2015)
Preventive Health
People with a stronger sense of purpose are more likely to use preventive health services and adopt health-protective behaviors.
(Kim et al., 2016)
Mental Well-Being
Purpose is a core dimension of psychological well-being, linked to greater life satisfaction and emotional resilience.
(Ryff, 1989; Ryff & Keyes, 1996; Fredrickson, 2001; VanderWeele et al., 2021)
Healthier Aging
Subjective well-being and meaning in life are associated with better health outcomes across the aging process.
(Steptoe et al., 2015; Krause, 2007; Hill & Weston, 2019)
The Research
Selected Studies & Findings
A curated sample of the peer-reviewed research underlying this division, summarized for a general audience.
Hill, P. L., & Turiano, N. A. (2014)
Purpose in life as a predictor of mortality across adulthood
Psychological Science, 25(7), 1482–1486
Following more than 6,000 adults for 14 years, greater purpose in life predicted a lower risk of death at every stage of adulthood — independent of age, health status, and neuroticism.
Boyle, P. A., Buchman, A. S., & Bennett, D. A. (2009)
Purpose in life is associated with a reduced risk of incident disability among community-dwelling older persons
The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 17(7), 573–580
Among community-dwelling older adults, higher purpose in life was linked to a significantly lower risk of developing disability over time.
Alimujiang, A., Wiensch, A., Boss, J., Stanton, S. E., Chang, C. W., Kim, E. S., & Hershner, S. D. (2019)
Association between life purpose and specific causes of death
JAMA Network Open, 2(5), e194270
In a large cohort, a stronger sense of purpose was associated with lower all-cause mortality, including fewer deaths from cardiovascular and other causes.
Kim, E. S., Hershner, S. D., & Strecher, V. J. (2015)
Purpose in life and incidence of sleep disturbances
Sleep, 38(5), 809–816
Adults with a greater sense of purpose were less likely to develop sleep disturbances over time.
Kim, E. S., Strecher, V. J., & Ryff, C. D. (2016)
Purpose in life and use of preventive health care services
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(31), 8716–8720
Purposeful individuals were more likely to obtain preventive screenings such as cholesterol checks and colonoscopies.
Ryff, C. D. (1989)
Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081
Introduced a six-factor model of well-being in which "purpose in life" is a defining component of positive psychological functioning.
Steptoe, A., Deaton, A., & Stone, A. A. (2015)
Subjective wellbeing, health, and ageing
The Lancet, 385(9968), 640–648
Reviewed evidence that subjective well-being — including meaning and purpose — is associated with better physical health and aging outcomes.
Hill, P. L., & Weston, S. J. (2019)
Evaluating the eight-year prospective links between purpose in life and self-rated health
Journal of Research in Personality, 82, 103864
Found that purpose in life prospectively predicts better self-rated health over an eight-year period, supporting a long-term link between purpose and physical health.
VanderWeele, T. J., Trudel-Fitzgerald, C., Allin, P., Farrelly, C., Guyer, H., Heshmati, A., Holwell, E., Kaftan, A., Krekel, C., Kunzmann, U., Peiró, A., & Wongsam, R. (2021)
Flourishing: An organizing concept for a public health framework
American Journal of Public Health, 111(5), 809–815
Proposes flourishing — including a sense of purpose and meaning — as an organizing concept for public health, arguing that promoting flourishing advances both well-being and population health.
Behavioral Health Careers Lived on Purpose
Purpose research tells us that meaning and service are good for health — and the behavioral health workforce turns that finding into a daily practice. These are careers where the science of purpose and the work of helping people meet. Each is organized by a larger life and purpose theme, with an in-depth profile and an example day in the life.
Choose a Theme
Select a purpose theme to open its full workshop module — the careers, a day-in-the-life case study, and your next steps.
Healing & Recovery
Helping people put their lives back together after addiction and mental health struggles — because getting better is always possible.
Crisis & Compassion
Showing up in someone's hardest moment — because no one should face a crisis alone.
Guiding the Next Generation
Helping kids and families grow — because what happens to a child can shape their whole life.
Building Community & Belonging
Making communities stronger from the inside — because feeling like you belong is good for your health.
Leading & Teaching the Workforce
Helping the people who help others — a purpose that reaches everyone they teach.
AI & the Workforce
Using AI to help people, not replace them — with honest answers, real human oversight, and care for people at the center.
References
APA 7th Edition
- 1.Alimujiang, A., Wiensch, A., Boss, J., Stanton, S. E., Chang, C. W., Kim, E. S., & Hershner, S. D. (2019). Association between life purpose and specific causes of death. JAMA Network Open, 2(5), e194270.
- 2.Boyle, P. A., Buchman, A. S., & Bennett, D. A. (2009). Purpose in life is associated with a reduced risk of incident disability among community-dwelling older persons. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 17(7), 573–580.
- 3.Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218–226.
- 4.Hill, P. L., & Turiano, N. A. (2014). Purpose in life as a predictor of mortality across adulthood. Psychological Science, 25(7), 1482–1486.
- 5.Hill, P. L., & Weston, S. J. (2019). Evaluating the eight-year prospective links between purpose in life and self-rated health. Journal of Research in Personality, 82, 103864.
- 6.Kim, E. S., Hershner, S. D., & Strecher, V. J. (2015). Purpose in life and incidence of sleep disturbances. Sleep, 38(5), 809–816.
- 7.Kim, E. S., Strecher, V. J., & Ryff, C. D. (2016). Purpose in life and use of preventive health care services. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(31), 8716–8720.
- 8.Krause, N. (2007). Longitudinal study of social support and meaning in life. Psychology and Aging, 22(4), 718–729.
- 9.Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081.
- 10.Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C. L. M. (1996). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(4), 719–727.
- 11.Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Free Press.
- 12.Steptoe, A., Deaton, A., & Stone, A. A. (2015). Subjective wellbeing, health, and ageing. The Lancet, 385(9968), 640–648.
- 13.VanderWeele, T. J., Trudel-Fitzgerald, C., Allin, P., Farrelly, C., Guyer, H., Heshmati, A., Holwell, E., Kaftan, A., Krekel, C., Kunzmann, U., Peiró, A., & Wongsam, R. (2021). Flourishing: An organizing concept for a public health framework. American Journal of Public Health, 111(5), 809–815.
Citations are provided for educational and reference purposes. This division's summaries are written for a general audience; readers are encouraged to consult the original peer-reviewed publications for full methodology and findings.
Turning Evidence Into Leadership
The Division of Purpose & Health translates this research into practice — grounding the University's leadership and workforce programs, including the Thirteen Tools and the Titan of Life Leadership Institute, in the evidence that a purpose-driven life is a healthier life.
Get in Touch
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the Future
To learn more about UH, our books, or the Titan of Life Scholarship, please reach out to our leadership team.
Contact the Office of the Provost