What are the health benefits of friendship?

    Friendships and mental health

   According to a 2014 study Trusted source, “loneliness is caused not by being alone, but by being without some definite needed relationship or set of relationships.”

   The study went on to suggest that loneliness can lead to many psychiatric disorders, such as dispersion, personality disorder, alcohol use and sleep disorders, and may even contribute to physical health problems.

   So does socializing help protect against mental health disorders? Almost certainly, as Lee chambers, psychologist and founder of Essentialize Workplace Wellbeing, told MNT.

    “Having friends, has the potential to protect us from the impact of loneliness, and having effective friendships can buffer us from the adverse effects of loneliness.”

   But what is an effective friendship? According to one study Trusted Source, high-quality friendships are more likely to be characterized by support, reciprocity, and intimacy.

  Effective friendships provide a strong sense of companionship, mitigate feelings of loneliness, and contribute to both life satisfaction and self-esteem.

   And there is a positive feedback loop Trusted source between social relationships and self-esteem, each reinforces the other. So friendships boost self-esteem in a Trusted source, which is a protective factor for both physical and mental health.

  The effect on physical health

   Lack of social interaction affects not only our mental health. Study in Trusted source have shown that a low quantity or quality of social ties is linked to many medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, cancer and impaired immune function.

“Social isolation and loneliness have negative health impacts on par with obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and are associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia. Simply taking a moment [to] connect with someone even through a brief phone call can reduce feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression and deliver brain-protecting benefits.”

   A 2010 meta-analysis of 148 studies looking at the data of 308,849 people in total found that participants with stronger social relationships had a 50% higher chance of survival over an average of 7.5 years than those without.

    This study concluded that “social relationship–based interventions represent a major opportunity to enhance not only the quality of life but also survival.”

    Studies have shown that strong friendships can lessen risk factors for poorer long-term health, including waist circumference, blood pressure, and inflammation levels. Emotional support plays a big factor in this, with having somebody to listen, validate feelings and be a positive distraction an important structure in modern life, alongside the encouragement and support to adopt healthier behaviors and improve health outcomes.

   For most people, friendships form an important part of life. Sharing experiences is part of being human. And many studies have shown that loneliness has a negative effect on our well-being. Friendship has a positive impact on mental health, but can it also have physical benefits? Medical News Today looks at the evidence and speaks to experts to find out why friendships are good for our health and wellness.

   We do not have to be social all the time sometimes, we need to enjoy our own space, but all people need social interactions.

   That is why people make friends and work at maintaining those friendships. And quality friendships will benefit all those involved.

   As humans, we value others for all sorts of reasons. They might like the same things we do, they might have similar political views, or perhaps lend help with work or chores.

     We need friends

   “Humans are hardwired to connect  and social connections are an essential part of good health and well-being  we need them to survive and thrive, just like we need food, water and oxygen,” said Dr. Kaiser.

   As children, most of us find that it is easy to make friends, but adults can find it more challenging. The good news is that the benefits of childhood friendships stay with us well into adulthood.

   In one study, boys were followed up at the age of 32. Those who reported having had lots of friends in childhood had lower blood pressure and were more likely to be a healthy weight than those who were less sociable.

 FRIENDSHIP IS ONE MIND,

              TWO BODIES.