María Branyas, who, at 117, is the oldest known living person on Earth, believes that one of the secrets to a long and healthy life lies in having “a good connection with friends and family”. A growing body of research shows the “supercentenarian” might be onto something. It’s long been known that people who enjoy high-quality friendships have better health – the effect is so strong it’s comparable to the longevity benefit of eating a Mediterranean diet.
There are health benefits to seeing (and smelling) our friends. Credit: iStock But simply having good friends and feeling connected isn’t enough. Research suggests that for our health to truly thrive, we need to physically meet with our friends on a regular basis.
A recent study analysed data from nearly 13,000 volunteers, examining not only their number of friends, but also whether they saw each other. Having face-to-face contact with friends at least once per week was a strong predictor of better physical and mental health. Calling or texting didn’t bring similar benefits, says Eric Kim, professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and the study’s lead author.
Data collected from a gerontological study in Japan showed that men who spent little time with their friends – less than a few times per year – had a 30 per cent higher mortality risk than those who enjoyed more frequent contact. While these studies show only an association – it could be that healthy people have more energy.
