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Bonding with friends helps you stay healthy: 80-year-long Harvard study, how healthy friendships affect your health

The study highlights the importance of relationships in our lives and these relationships could be friendships or marital or any other relations. These relationships help you to overcome the bad times and life’s discontents. When you protect these relationships, you are more likely to live long and happy lives. The study proves the importance of relationships in an individual’s life.

TN Digital

Updated Jul 30, 2022, 20:43 IST

They help you to cope with trauma. If you do not cope with your trauma, it is likely going to affect your mental health and then that affects the other aspects of your life as well. (Picture courtesy: Pexels)

New Delhi: A Harvard 80-year-long study, which is also the longest study on happiness, reveals that neither money nor fame can keep you happy throughout your life. However, your close relationships are what can keep you happy and healthy. Director of the study and professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Robert Waldinger says that “our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships has a powerful influence on our health”. He also adds, “Taking care of your body is important, but tending to your relationships is a form of self-care too. That, I think, is the revelation.”

Here, take a look at how friends and friendships affect your health.

They help you to cope with trauma. If you do not cope with your trauma, it is likely going to affect your mental health and then that affects the other aspects of your life as well.
They help in situations when you have anxiety or have low self-esteem. Chronic anxiety can have serious health implications starting from respiratory issues to other health problems. Friends can help you over anxiety and help you lead a healthy life.
They can help to reduce your stress. Stress is not a very good thing for the body and it can also cause depression and anxiety among people. When you share your problems with your friends, you are more likely to feel de-stressed.

How to nourish your friendships?

Talk to your friends often
Make time for your friends
Show your friends that they can trust you
Make sure you are a good listener
Be a shoulder for your friends

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

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