Better Health with Friendships

One reason for the link between social support and good health practices seems to be that people who feel cared for by others re less vulnerable to the effects of stress and are protected against the symptoms of depression and loneliness.

Sometimes, family members may be more prone to giving advise or telling you what you don't want to hear. It may not be as good as a friend who will listen and guide you, but supports your decisions anyway. The most important factor about friendships are those who offer support and do not judge your decisions based on society.

Friendships can profoundly affect the physical and mental health of both men and women. Studies show that people who have now friends or who are lonely, die earlier, get sick more often and weather transitions with greater physical wear and tear than those who have a support system of friends.

Generally, women benefit most because of how the deal with stress. Women are more social in how the cope with stress than men, while men are more likely to have a "fight or flight" reaction. Women also tend to have larger, denser social network, in which more people know each other, while men typically have smaller groups of friends and will rely on their spouses or significant other for more support. While aggression and withdrawal take a psychological toll, friendship brings comfort that lessens the ill effects of stress and that difference contributes to the gender difference in longevity.

Friendships do make people feel better.