Most individuals eventually contemplate their legacy, wondering if their family will remember them or if their contributions will continue to matter. A new study indicates that this deeply human desire may be intrinsically connected to psychological well-being. Researchers discovered that individuals who strongly believed they would be remembered after death tended to report better mental health alongside lower levels of problematic substance use and addictive behaviors.
Led by Dr. Uri Lifshin and Professor Mario Mikulincer from the Israel Center for Addiction and Mental Health and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the research examined the concept of "symbolic immortality." This term describes the sense that a part of an individual continues to exist through their relationships, accomplishments, identity, or legacy. Published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, the study analyzed data from 2,912 Israeli adults.
Participants with a stronger sense of symbolic immortality reported greater self-esteem, more robust social support, increased meaning in life, and more secure relationships. Conversely, these individuals exhibited fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, as well as reduced sleep problems and difficulties in emotional regulation. The pattern extended to various addictive behaviors; a stronger belief in being remembered was associated with lower levels of problematic alcohol, cannabis, and prescription drug use. It also correlated with reduced issues regarding gambling, gaming, pornography, compulsive sexual behavior, social media, and internet use.
While the correlations were generally modest to small, they remained consistent across a broad range of mental health and addiction-related outcomes. The researchers noted that feeling one's life matters and will continue to matter to others may be a crucial mechanism for coping with uncertainty and the knowledge of mortality. They suggested that feeling connected to others and believing something of oneself will remain often go hand in hand with better mental health.
The study was conducted during a particularly difficult period, with participants completing surveys in February 2025 amidst the Swords of Iron war. The sample was designed to broadly reflect the adult Jewish population in Israel across gender, age, religiosity, and area of residence. Researchers distinguished symbolic immortality from belief in an afterlife; while related, afterlife beliefs were closely tied to religiosity and did not consistently associate with better mental health. In contrast, symbolic immortality remained associated with positive outcomes even after accounting for afterlife beliefs and demographic factors.
The authors caution that the study does not prove causation. The relationship could work in reverse, where poor mental health makes it harder to feel connected or confident about one's legacy. Furthermore, because the research was conducted only in Israel during wartime, further studies in other populations and settings are necessary. Experimental and longitudinal research will also be required to determine if symbolic immortality plays a causal role in these outcomes. Nevertheless, the findings suggest that mental health and addiction issues may be tied not only to biological or cognitive processes but also to the extent people feel they have established a sense of purpose and significance that endures beyond their death.
Sources: Phys.org.