EAST LANSING, Mich. — We may have less time to spend with friends as we get older, but that doesn’t mean that close companionship becomes any less important to our well-being. That’s because our social circle has a greater impact on our health and well-being than family does, a new study finds.
Researchers at Michigan State University conducted two separate, yet related studies, hoping to find the empirical value of friendship.
The first study analyzed a survey that provided self-reported measures of health and happiness from over 270,000 participants of all ages worldwide. Meanwhile, the second study derived its data on relationships and chronic illness from a survey of nearly 7,500 American adults.
Via the first study, the researchers found that both having healthy relations with family and friends were determinants of good health and happiness in general, but friendship alone was seen to be a solid predictor of positive overall health at later ages.
The second study found that participants who had stress-inducing friends were likely to experience chronic illness, while those who had more supportive friends were happier.
While the notion that friends influence our wellness more than family members may be a bit controversial, it’s important to remember that we have an active hand in selecting friends, which allows us to choose wisely.
For older individuals, friendships can help prevent loneliness when other family members having passed, or from a dearth of workplace interaction.
“There are now a few studies starting to show just how important friendships can be for older adults,” says lead researcher William Chopik, an assistant professor of psychology, in a university news release. “Summaries of these studies show that friendships predict day-to-day happiness more and ultimately how long we’ll live, more so than spousal and family relationships.”
Unfortunately, friendships are often ignored in social science research, particularly when compared to more formal relationships, like ones of a spousal and familial variety. Chopik argues this is a mistake.
“Friendships become even more important as we age,” he says. “Keeping a few really good friends around can make a world of difference for our health and well-being. So it’s smart to invest in the friendships that make you happiest.”
Because maintaining strong friendships becomes more challenging with age, Chopik points to the most lasting relationships as also the most important to hold onto.
“If a friendship has survived the test of time, you know it must be a good one – a person you turn to for help and advice often and a person you wanted in your life,” he says.
The study’s findings were published in the journal Personal Relationships.
BS
Bullshit.
I deal with many individuals in my career, and hear all about their families. This comes as no surprise.
Friends are people that you choose. Not so, family.
Would that everyone had good relationships with both. That, however is a rarity.
With the break-down of the natural family, including skyrocketing
out-of-wedlock births, shack-ups, and easy, unilateral divorce, it’s convenient to
smear the term “family,” which has taken on a whole new dysfunctional
meaning.
Friendship is the only thing that matters.
If friendship is lacking among family members including married couples then relationships fail. the bonds of family or marriage are stronger if friendship is part of it.
Friendship is not just between “Friends”
Great point! Any meaningful relationship, when you analyze it carefully, is because of friendship. The highest relationship man has with God is friendship (Joh 15:15).
Call me any name you want. I had to divorce myself from the rest of my LIBERAL family because of their liberal voting & welfare mentality. They had jobs but continued to scam ways of getting freebies. My parent taught me to stand on my own two feet and be self reliant. I am way better off. I am no longer called to fix their f’ups, bail them out of financial or legal jams they themselves create or have to listen to them whine because they are LAZY and refuse to WORK harder for what they want but instead DEMAND HANDOUTS!
I have a few close friends the rest I just consider as people I associate with. My wife is my true friend and is like minded politically morally and financially as with the people I do associate and the few friends I have.
Wow, are these liberal family members of yours from California by chance? I’m kind of in the same situation, but my left-leaning family members are the way they are more due to the city they grew up in (San Francisco) and the schools they attended rather than other things.
Not family but apparently there are more families that don’t see eye to eye in this world than me or you.
There are people that care and Do things when and as they can for others, and then there are others that are perfectly capable with much time on their hands, but sit on their butt want/demand it be done for them. Even in my laziest self centered time, I’ve been a doer for others.
My family is that way, limousine liberal types. I had a way different experience growing up and somehow I am more conservative. My relatives from San Fran are out of their minds, can’t have a normal conversation without bashing trump, talking about global warming, social justice etc etc… Others move to other states citing high taxes yet they continue to vote for people in those areas hat want more taxes… It’s crazy
I hear ya! I’m estranged from my entire family for the very same reasons, and will not allow any Liberal/Leftist into my life to any degree at all.
It’s called Peace of Mind for sure. It’s hard because other people may look at you as being the problem.
I am right there with you pal. I too am tired of bailing out my liberal family. Go to work and respect yourselves…I’m done.
Bravo! May You Live Long and Prosper My Good Man!
Those are your circumstances, all of my family members are conservative through and through. I say that to make the point these studies are bogus because they assume everyone is the same, we are all individuals and all have different circumstances desires and needs.
Very true, but then again Liberals only can see things their way. They can NEVER see the other side of ANY situation, ANY difference of OPINION. IT IS THEIR WAY OR THE HIWAY.
Crud. I’m screwed.
No you’re not! Adopt a dog, best friend you will ever have. Just ask Tigger the Schnauzer….see avatar.
He is no friend if i have to pick up his crap all the time … lol
The things we do for the ones we love!
Yes! Dogs are much better people than most humans anymore!
Yes! Dogs are much better people than most “Liberal” humans anymore!
There Fixed it for you!
Dogs are a nightmare. Demanding constant attention, they smell, they make messes, they bark, they rip stuff apart, they slobber all over you…. Not worth it. Not by a long shot.
more junk science paid for by federal tax money to justify some liberal maroon’s existence.
What a load of crap. The stated goal was to find empirical evidence that friendship benefits heath. Already the two, separate but ‘related’ studies are irrelevant and can only be used to further some sort of unproven opinion of anyone without a brain. This is fishing and a scam. The whole article stinks and is a load of crap. And poorly written. Someone didn’t have a whole lot of time did he?
Best advice comes from Benjamin Franklin – “Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none.” I have seen families torn apart – not by their original family – but the the nefarious in-laws that enter into a united family and delight in destroying it. Too many examples to dump here.
No truer words have been spoken
Franklin has a great insight into human nature.
From personal observations and personal experiences, friends disappear like rats from a sinking ship in your time of need. You may have one or two stand by you . Many family members jump ship as well but your true friends will turn out to be very close family members. A study of 270,000 of all ages world wide? This is a joke ,right? Psychology studies have become silly and irrelevant , with desired conclusions determining how the data is massaged. This is just another post modern assault on traditional institutions that are the fabric of a functioning society. In this case, the family, AGAIN.
Who ever has the most friends at the end wins … Its that simple folks ….
Total BS. Everyone knows the more Facebook friends you have, the happier you are!
LoL
Facebunk: A rich source of narcissistic supply for millions.
This will be very useful “information” in the ongoing effort to delegitimatize and wither away the family and replace it with the “village” i.e. the State.
God, I LOVE science-y stuff!
Especially “settled science”. That’s my favorite!
Ooh, yeah! That kind is the bestest of them ALL!
Says the person who calls there pets there kids.
“their” and “their”.
Not to nit-pick, but good spelling and grammar just looks better.