A recent study shared by the Mayo Clinic proves that friendship isn’t just enriching — it’s crucial to living a longer, healthier life.
“Researchers monitored the health of nearly 7,000 Californians for more than 17 years,” reported the Mayo Clinic. “They found that those lacking social connections were approximately 2 to 3 times more likely to die at a younger age than were their counterparts with more social connections.”
This new research comes on the heels of 38 studies shared by the American Psychological Association, which collectively found overwhelming evidence that high-quality friendships can significantly improve a person’s well-being.
“In the face of life’s challenges, having a close friend to turn to seems to be a buffer or protective factor against some of the negative outcomes we might otherwise see,” Catherine Bagwell — a professor of psychology at Davidson College — told the APA.
And friendship doesn’t just ward off mental illness, like anxiety or depression.
People who experience prolonged social isolation face a greater risk of heart attacks, stroke, and premature death, with researchers estimating that loneliness increases the risk of early death by as much as 26%.
As more studies emerge on the benefits of friendship, Dartmouth College professor Thalia Wheatley emphasized the importance of friendship in a world that caters primarily to romantic couples.
“Friendship is something we really need to understand,” Wheatley explained. “There’s been this preoccupation with romantic relationships, but many of our close relationships are with friends.”
How To Support A Friend During A Hard Time
- Good: Read “The Art of Showing Up” by Rachel Wilkerson Miller, a book on navigating adult friendships, taking action when your loved ones are in crisis, and practicing self-care so you can show up for others.
- Better: Organize a “meal train” to drop off deliveries and home-cooked meals. No matter what somebody is going through — job loss, illness, grief, strife — everybody needs to eat. Visit mealtrain.com to get started.
- Best: Try Just Checking In, an app that sets regular reminders to check in with your friends and share your own mental health status — without the pressure of lengthy calls or texts. Download at justcheckingin.co.
A version of this article originally appeared in the 2025 Relationships Edition of the Goodnewspaper.
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