By Maxine Roeper Cohen, M.S.
For most of us, friendship is important. Research has shown how social isolation can lead to poor health. Spending time with friends, a spouse or significant other, or a group of friends is linked to good health. In fact, the concept of quantity in social interactions has been studied closely. In a huge study published in January of 2016 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill confirmed that beginning in adolescence, more social interactions predicted less hypertension (high blood pressure), less inflammation, lower rates of obesity, and other signs of bad health as people aged. This study had 15,000 subjects, ranging in age from adolescents to the elderly.
This does not prove that social interactions cause changes in health. Interestingly, when the researchers looked at the quality of the social interactions, it was found that quality does predict health outcomes more accurately than the quantitative measure. The level of support from family members, friends, and significant others is important. In many respects, it is probably better for your health to have a few really good friends than a large number of Facebook or more superficial friends or acquaintances.
When you have good relationships with family and friends, your health can be positively affected. However, when you have strained relationships with family or friends, there can be adverse effects on your health. So, from health point of view, strive for positive, supportive relationships with friends, family, and significant others. Ending a difficult relationship, as hard as that can be, might keep you from developing high blood pressure or putting on weight. Simply stated, it might be wise to say good-bye to a demanding or high maintenance friendship or relationship. Paraphrasing a popular song, look for friends who are there for you “in good times, in bad times. That’s what friends are for.”
Maxine Roeper Cohen is a Parent Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County’s Family Health and Wellness Program. She can be reached at mc333@cornell.edu.