As we age, friends become extremely important to our health and happiness. According to new research from the journal Personal Relationships, we need good relationships and strong friendships with age more than family.
The survey included more than 270.000 people from almost a hundred countries. Researcher and psychologist William Čopik discovered early on that strong ties with family and friends are associated with happiness and health. However, those people who have strong friendships with someone in their old age are healthier and happier.
In the second round of research, Čopik discovered that people who have no friends in old age are more prone to chronic diseases.
"Various studies have shown that we often enjoy hanging out with friends more. We are casual, relaxed and laugh with them, while hanging out with family can sometimes be more serious and maybe a bit monotonous," said Čopik, Time reports.
Strong friendships contribute to mental and physical health, especially in old age. However, as Čopik says, people often neglect their friends because they think that their spouses and children come first.
"It is important to be devoted to family, but friendships especially affect us. During our lives, we let go of superficial friends and stay with those who really mean to us. In old age, then you know that you have left people around you who make you happy and with whom you will more easily overcome any difficulty," Čopik emphasized.
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