Research Links Thinking About Legacy to Mental Health Benefits

Research indicates that considering the legacy one leaves after death can improve mental health and increase a sense of meaning in life. The findings come from multiple studies involving cancer survivors, older adults, and people registered as body donors.

Legacy can take biological, material, or values-based forms.

Biological legacy includes passing on genes or donating organs and bodies to science. Material legacy involves wealth, property, or personal items passed to others. Values-based legacy centers on beliefs and behaviors. One study of 38 women found participants most wanted to pass on experiences and moral examples through their actions or recorded stories.

Hospitals and hospices sometimes offer legacy activities such as journals, scrapbooks, or ethical wills for patients in end-of-life care. Research on terminally ill adults and children suggests these activities can reduce depression and anxiety. A study of adults aged 65 and older who created legacy-of-values documents found participants reported greater peace and acceptance of the past.

One participant described the process as a reminder of obstacles faced and philosophies that helped overcome them.

Erikson introduced the concept of generativity in 1950 as part of his stages of psychosocial development. He described it as interest in the well-being of future generations and placed it as a key task for people in midlife. Later researchers have expanded the idea, suggesting generativity can be relevant across the lifespan rather than limited to middle age.