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.
Well it’s true if you are in a friendship that’s dysfunctional it’s not really a friendship, but if you’re in a dysfunctional family, it’s still a family.
Family is ‘supposed’ to be closer than friends, but it’s often not the case.
If you’re from a dysfunctional family and you’re “later in age”, I’m gonna guess that you’re going to distance yourself from them so that they don’t affect you. The study is absurd because you can separate yourself from a dysfunctional family member and they’re still your family, but if you separate yourself from a dysfunctional friend then they’re not your friend anymore. So the study is essentially saying, “People who remain loyal to dysfunctional friends have poor health.” No kidding.
I’m not buying this general principle. Friends are friends but when the chips are down, family will always be there (for most of us) while friends will more likely be there for THEIR family. Don’t get me wrong, I am sure friends are important and they are great, but in the end family ties us together.
How can I get in on this ‘study’ racket and make a nice living?
Not long ago Feds conducted one about how come gay men are slim but lesbians are so often fat. I’m not kidding.
In order to be compensated, your findings must agree with Leftist ideology.
Another useless study to give liberals a salary. Every one of their studies is garbage
Their studies are useful only to continue the assault on the natural family.
“Study:” is a line guaranteed to get me to ignore the article. You can purchase a “study” to find any result you want pursuant to your political agenda, and it goes on all the time.
“Friendship More Important For Health Than Family As We Age, Study Finds”
Money doesn’t hurt, either.
“Friendship More Important For Health Than Family As We Age, Study Finds“..
…Report Researchers Without Close Family Relationships.
Soon they’ll be telling us that friendships with gays, non-whites and muslimss are the best for your health,
Here we go again. Progressives trying to break up the family unit. The family unit is core to society, without the family unit you have pure socialism. Progressives and globalists are hell-bent on destroying the family. That said, friends….true friends, are nice to have.
With the break-down of the natural family, including skyrocketing out-of-wedlock births, shack-ups, and unilateral divorce, it’s easy to smear the term “family,” which has taken on a whole new dysfunctional meaning.
Here we go again. Kill the family unit. Remove the family unit and you have pure socialism. Progressives and globalists are hell-bent on destroying the family unit to further their power and greed. Just more fake news. That being said, friends, true friends are great to have.
So, better yet if family happens also to be your best friends?
More bullshit. “Studies” either confirm common sense or they are wrong.
Family IS the most important thing in your life. It is another way to ingrain the idea that marriage, fidelity, close familial ties, etc. are not that important. Right.
Oh Gee! Another University Study! Spare Me Please.
Considering “The American Family” has been decimated due to self loathing Liberals, feminists and self centered narcissistic people that the only thing they have left is to find so called friends which are usually of The Same Group Think gene pool to help them feel good and validate their own flaws!
A wise old man once told me: A Best Friend is someone you can completely disagree with and still be close to and is there when you need them not just when they need or want something from you! The rest are associates and acquaintances…
I call bollocks….more liberal propaganda to tear down the family institution.
Wow, the first study in the world to conclusively determine that you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family. Nice work, fellas. Keep up the A+ work. What’s next? “People in colder environments spend more time inside heated buildings?” “Residents of Phoenix use more sunscreen than the average US citizen?” If somebody can scientifically prove that strong body odor is not sexually arousing, that would really put my mind at ease– we can’t leave that unanswered– we need a big “case closed” on that one.
Each person has his or own needs. These studies are bogus. A waste of grant money.
Ridiculous study with overstated conclusion as most subjective studies do.The foundation of love,self confidence,and compassion a persons family gives them are the dominant influence throughout a persons life both good and bad.It affects who you marry and who you choose as friends.In a good marriage ,as I’ve been blessed,my wife is by far my best and closest friend.