KhizooologyThe Good Life
Relationships need maintenance as well as intention.
Big Idea
Waldinger and Schulz draw on long-term research to examine how relationships contribute to a fulfilling life.
Social connection
Supportive relationships are associated with important dimensions of well-being.
Maintenance
Relationships need attention rather than surviving indefinitely on shared history.
Everyday contact
Small interactions can matter alongside intimate partnerships.
Life changes
Work, age, and transitions can change the connections available to a person.
Study limits
Long-term observational findings do not prove that one relationship formula causes health or happiness for everyone.
Notooo Take
Reach out to one person you would like to stay connected with.
- Book ideas for reflection, not individualized medical or mental-health treatment.
One Thing to Keep
Relationships need maintenance as well as intention.