Purpose, Aging, Transitions, and Health (PATH) Lab 

Welcome to the PATH Lab at Washington University in St. Louis! Our research program considers a variety of topics related to the role of dispositional traits in promoting healthy aging through the lifespan. 

What is purpose?

We think of your purpose as your path in life - it is the thing that guides you from one day to the next, one week to the next, and so on. Having a purpose means having a direction to follow forward, energizing and motivating you toward achieving your short-term goals in pursuit of your broader lifelong aim. 

Why study it?

Everyone develops a purpose in ways similar to others yet in a fully individual and unique manner. Your purpose is different from everyone else’s! When you have a greater sense of purpose in life, it can lead you to a myriad of positive outcomes in the future. People with a greater sense of purpose tend to be healthier, happier, and even wealthier than their peers. Critically, sense of purpose is something we can develop, nurture, and cultivate throughout the lifespan. So it’s never too late, or too early, to start thinking about your life direction!