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Gratitude and Shared Laughter Are Like Probiotics for Your Relationship

Untangling the factors that make relationships work is at the heart of Sara Algoe’s research. Having high-quality relationships with people we care about predicts mental and physical health — even how long we may live.

“Close relationships are linked to longevity to the same degree that smoking is linked to mortality,” said Algoe, a professor of psychology and neuroscience. “We spend billions of dollars trying to get people to stop smoking for better health. We need to also focus on the science behind healthy relationships and how we can help them thrive.”

Published on the Univ. of North Carolina College of Arts & Sciences website; Feb. 14, 2023