Greater Good - The Science of a Meaningful Life

An encouraging article in The New York Times yesterday reports on the health benefits of close friendships. Reporter Tara Parker-Pope cites several studies that have found that having close friendships leads to better general health: They help fight illness and depression, slow the aging process, and even promote better brain health.

As Parker-Pope writes,

Researchers are only now starting to pay attention to the importance of friendship and social networks in overall health. A 10-year Australian study found that older people with a large circle of friends were 22 percent less likely to die during the study period than those with fewer friends. A large 2007 study showed an increase of nearly 60 percent in the risk for obesity among people whose friends gained weight. And last year, Harvard researchers reported that strong social ties could promote brain health as we age.

"In general, the role of friendship in our lives isn't terribly well appreciated," said Rebecca G. Adams, a professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. "There is just scads of stuff on families and marriage, but very little on friendship. It baffles me. Friendship has a bigger impact on our psychological well-being than family relationships."