The awesome power of a friend…
Friday, October 27, 2023.
More research confirming that humans who value and invest in close friendships are healthier and happier…
As humans age, friendships can promote more health and happiness than even relationships with family members. With family… perhaps it’s obvious that we don’t choose them… and they are often a pain in the ass…
As we get older, the quality and reliability of our friendship network can be more predictive how long we will live than relationships with our families of origin.
It may be partly because we choose our friends and not our families (well, not most of them, anyway).
Friends of duration, friendships that have moved with you through time are particularly precious.
Dr. William Chopik, from Mighty Michigan State, the study’s author, said:
“Friendships become even more important as we age.
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.”
How the study was conducted
This was one of the largest studies I have ever written about.
Researchers surveyed over 270,000 humans (ok, 271,053 ) from scores of different countries. (nearly 100).
Although this humungous survey asked about both friends and family, and a loving family is an essential factor in human happiness and health, it was the the boon of close friends that became more important as time goes by.
Dr. Chopik further explained:
“There are now a few studies starting to show just how important friendships can be for older adults.
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.”
A second study of nearly 7500 older humans like me, (ok, 7,481) suggested another obvious fact. Older adults found friendships could be both a pain in the ass sometimes, as well as an organizing principle of human happiness.
Despite the imperfection of some close friendship bonds, friends may help to stave off loneliness.
Dr. Chopik summed it up:
“Friendships help us stave off loneliness but are often harder to maintain across the lifespan.
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.”
Thrive well, stay kind, and Godspeed.
RESEARCH:
Personality change across the life span: Insights from a cross-cultural, longitudinal study
William J. Chopik, Shinobu Kitayama, Journal of Personality, Volume 86, Issue 3. First published: 23 June 2017
