Young adults depend heavily on their friends for making decisions, both good and bad, which extend into adulthood, according to a recent study. Researchers analyzed over 13,000 people over 50 and discovered that friendship is linked with certain health outcomes.
One of the primary advantages is increased longevity. Researchers compared lifespans between those with large social networks and those without many friends; those who had many more outlived their peers by 22% while also reporting less loneliness and having better mental health overall.
But this study also demonstrated the value of quality friendships. Friends with more dynamic relationships were better equipped to compensate for role changes and other difficulties associated with aging, while maintaining these bonds requires active engagement from all involved – for instance if caregiving duties have prevented your friends from gathering regularly, try keeping in contact daily by checking in or offering to take over while they run errands.
Un additional intriguing finding was the finding that encounters with friends were more pleasurable than those with romantic partners or family members, consistent with socioemotional selectivity theory, which holds that we tend to enjoy experiences that have meaning for us personally. While more research needs to be conducted into this phenomenon, for now all adults–not just seniors–must prioritize friendships as a powerful life extension tool.