While there's no denying an optimistic mental attitude in conjunction with social interaction has been found to hold profound health benefits, it may come as a surprise to learn that close friends--not family--help people live longer, according to Australian researchers.
To assess how economic, social, behavioral and environmental factors affected the health and well-being of seniors older than 69, scientists asked some 1,500 people about the amount of personal and phone contact they had with their various social networks--children, relatives, friends and confidants--and monitored their survival at least six times over 10 years.
The impact of factors influencing survival rates such as socioeconomic status, health and lifestyle were also considered.
Results Showed ...
Close contact with children and relatives had minimal impact on survival rates.
Those with a strong network of friends and confidants lived longer than those with relatively fewer friends/confidants.
The beneficial effects of friends on longevity persisted despite personal losses (i.e. death of a spouse, the relocation of friends to other parts of the country).
Researchers are unsure why friends seemed to help people live longer, though they suspect that friends may influence people to engage in more healthy behavior, such as not smoking or not drinking too much; friends may also help boost people's self-esteem.
As for the lack of a relationship between longevity and family, researchers suggest it may be a reflection on the tendency of people to rely on family members when their health has already begun fading.
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health July 2005; 59(7):574-9
Science Blog June 16, 2005
Gary Craig's Comment:
I wonder if there's not another way to look at the "friends vs. family longevity finding" in the above article. Recall that it states ...
"Researchers are unsure why friends seemed to help people live longer, though they suspect that friends may influence people to engage in more healthy behavior, such as not smoking or not drinking too much; friends may also help boost people's self-esteem."
But consider this: Love, whether it comes from friends, family or elsewhere, is one our greatest longevity tools. Accordingly, I think the above study might really be suggesting that families are not always the centers of love that we wish them to be. Close friends, on the other hand, may get the "longevity nod" because they are islands of love outside of the bickerings, resentments and subtle abuses that occur all too often within many families. Interesting idea, I think.
Along these lines. I also think that the many "dysfunctional families" reported in the U.S. could be materially helped by the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Properly used, numerous emotional issues for family members can be neutralized and major moves toward harmony can be achieved. I'm quite aware that this is the goal of conventional counseling therapy. However, with EFT injected into the process, impressive progress can be made at a MUCH faster pace.
Note: Those without an EFT background can receive an orientation by getting the free EFT Get Started Package, including a free download of the 79-page EFT Manual (it includes all the basics). Those wishing to save time and dive right in can get our very affordable training videos.