Study shows benefits of close ties

Study shows benefits of close ties

Having close ties with family and friends may boost your longevity, making as much difference as not smoking, a new report suggests. Researchers, who looked at the results of 148 studies, estimated that adults with strong personal relationships may live an average of almost four years longer than those with weaker social ties, a Health Day article notes. Study author Julianne Holt-Lunstad of Brigham Young University said that the analysis doesn’t prove that relationships directly help people live longer, but it seems clear that “our relationships come with more than just emotional benefits. They can influence our longevity and our health.” Strong relationships appear to have an effect comparable to that of quitting smoking and a greater effect than risk factors such as obesity and alcohol abuse, she said. Study authors say the challenge now is to put this information to good use. They noted that in this era of technology, the quantity and quality of relationships seem to be decreasing.