Good friends are sometimes better than family

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Friends are important and friendships are at the center of our lives. Research has proven its healing effects: A new study from the USA shows that friendships can become even more important than family relationships over the years.

friends are so important

In two studies of nearly 280,000 participants, researchers led by psychologist William Chopik concluded that friendships became increasingly important to personal well-being and health over a lifetime. This is especially true for older people, whose friends may be more important than family members, Chopik and his team write in the journal Personal Relationships.

Friendly relationships affect well-being

In their first study of more than 270,000 participants from 100 countries, they found that both family and friendship relationships are associated with better health and well-being. In advanced age, only friendships allowed a guess for both. In the second study, the researchers looked at the impact of friends on the health of older people. As they reported, the impact of friendships was clear: If friends were perceived as stressful, study participants were more likely to be chronically ill. Conversely, when friends were supportive, participants felt happier.

you choose your friends

According to the researchers, the fact that friendships are sometimes even more important than family later in life may have something to do with the fact that friendships are optional. Over time, we keep the ones we love while giving up friendships that don’t work for us.

Friends can also support people who do not have a spouse or do not want to be a burden to their family and can help them get rid of loneliness. Researchers say having a few good friends around can make a huge difference in health and well-being. That’s why it’s important to invest in the friendships that make you the happiest. (aponet)

Source : Blick