Self-ratings in the Boston Couples Study Predict Life Satisfaction 38 Years Later

As part of a larger cross-cultural study of Intimate Relationships, former participants in the Boston Couples Study were sent a letter inviting them to participate in the new study that was online. They were each given a unique code number to enter online to allow linking their new responses with their previous responses. Data were available from 66 individuals who had participated in the Boston Couples Study either as a member of a couple (57) or in another group of students not in a couple at that time (9). This provided a 38-year follow-up at age 58 of their responses at age 20. Self-ratings of Creativity, Physical Attractiveness, and Self-Confidence at age 20 were statistically significantly correlated with the same self-ratings at age 58. Self-ratings of Physical Attractiveness, Intelligence, Desirability as a dating partner, and Desirability as a marriage partner statistically significantly predicted Life Satisfaction 38 years later. How you evaluate yourself at age 20 may affect the choices you make, the opportunities you pursue, and how you respond to stressful situations, affecting your satisfaction with life decades later.