Life is actually a “team sport” new research finds.
- Study participants took the survey three times over eight years and those with the good friends were 24% less likely to die during that time.
- Having good friends was also associated with a whole lot of positive health behaviors and benefits,
- like a 9% increase in likelihood to exercise,
- a 17% reduced risk of depression,
- a 19% lower likelihood of having a stroke, among other findings.
Over time humans have been born, lived and thrived in groups. We are a modern version of pack animals, who best thrive with the help, support, input and affection of others. Unfortunately, with modern technologies such as Facebook people more and more have replaced traditional in person socializing for digital versions.
Close friends can help you live longer but they can spread some bad habits, too. As for those peer pressure effects of friendship that your mom warned you about as a teenager? They appear to still exist in your later years, too. Those individuals in the study with the best friendships were also more likely to smoke and drink heavily.
More than ever people need the support, affection, and good feelings that often come with sitting down with a good friend and chatting up. This study highlights how when we have people in our lives we are more likely to do the things we love doing and demonstrates there is a real health benefit to embracing a more social lifestyle.