Children growing up in a family with strong family bonds have a good chance of thriving later in life. In a new study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers at Columbia University surveyed over 37,000 children between the ages of 11 and 13 in 26 countries. They found that adolescents who reported having a great connection with their family tended to report that they were succeeding in life. They had higher levels of a number of positive outcomes, including purpose in life, positive relations with others, self-acceptance, environmental mastery, autonomy, and personal growth.