You can get by with a little help from your friends…

The secret to a long life may be intertwined with one’s friends and personal relationships. A new study from Brigham Young University researchers Julianne Holt-Lunstad and Timothy Smith reveals that an integrated social life – strong ties and engagement with friends, family, co-workers and romantic partners – increases odds of survival by up to 50 percent.

This is in sharp contrast to people who have low social interaction – those who live alone and have few robust external relationships–who face a much higher risk of death.

Low social interaction was found to be just as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or being an alcoholic and is actually worse than not exercising or being obese, according to the study.

The researchers completed a meta-analysis, looking at 148 studies including over 300,000 participants on social relationships and health outcomes. They looked at both the functional types of support given, e.g. marital/living alone status, as well as social network size and level of engagement. The longevity boost held even after controlling for age, sex, initial health status, cause of death and the duration of the study itself. In fact, the estimate of 50 percent increased odds of a longer lifespan is conservative because relationship quality was unknown in many of the studies the researchers reviewed and could not be included in the meta-analysis. It is possible that the benefit of social engagement on an individual’s health is actually much higher.

While it’s unknown exactly how living a socially engaged life acts as such a protective barrier, it certainly adds to the growing research revealing the connection between psychological processes and physical health. On a practical level, friends, romantic partners and family can all help provide and support good health practices, as well as provide comfort, laughter and meaning in life.

This research is a persuasive example of why public health and medical professionals should take into account social relationships and well-being when evaluating an individual’s health. It suggests that interventions that address social engagement may influence more than just quality of life, but also survival.

Further Reading:
Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Layton JB. Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review. PLoS Medicine, 2010; 7 (7): e1000316 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316

Brigham Young University (2010, July 27). Relationships improve your odds of survival by 50 percent, research finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 28, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2010/07/100727174909.htm