4 reasons friends and family are good for your health

The holidays are the perfect time to gather with loved ones and share stories that ignite laughter and good cheer. Engaging in these precious moments with family and friends is not only enjoyable but also beneficial to your health.

Health benefits of social interaction

Being social and spending time with others:  

1. Helps you cope with stress. People who spend time with family and friends find healthier ways to cope with stress. A Carnegie Mellon University study found that people use family and friends as a buffer against stress. They talk about their problems instead of turning to unhealthy coping behaviors like drinking, smoking, or drugs.

2. It may lengthen your life. An American Society of Aging article finds adults with larger social networks show better memory, cognition, and lower allostatic load. Allostatic load is the body and brain’s cumulative wear and tear from chronic stress. Having good relationships with marital partners, adult children, siblings, and friends contributes to these positive health effects.

3. Improves psychological well-being. The emotional support provided by social ties enhances psychological well-being. One study found that people who view their friends and family as supportive tend to feel greater meaning in life. They also report a stronger sense of purpose overall.

4. Is good for your cardiovascular health. Stress can actually encourage inflammation in the arteries, which is a precursor to atherosclerosis, or clogged arteries. Having good friends and a strong social support network can relieve stress. One study in Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that discussing difficult experiences with a friend lowers pulse and blood pressure.

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