14 DAY TRIAL // Women who spend more time socializing with female friends are less likely to feel stress and have health issues later in life, a new study seems to indicate. Researchers at the University of California have established a clear connection between the time spent with friends, engaging in fun activities, and overall health past a certain age, the British publication the Daily Mail informs.
The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, has also determined that the benefits of socializing extend beyond the health of women. In baboons at least, researchers have established that the offspring of socializing females also live longer than those whose mothers do not bond with other females. This comes to confirm the findings of previous studies, this time on humans, that friends actively act to improve health and reduce mortality and health issues.
The benefits of friendship and sincere bonding are more obvious in women, researchers point out. “Females who formed stronger bonds with their mothers and adult daughters experienced higher offspring survival rates.” Dr. Joan Silk of the University of California says of the findings in baboons. However, this also applies to humans, especially in the context in which previous research has established there is a very strong connection between friendship and joy, and stress management on the other hand.
“Being able to connect with women on various emotional levels can assist in lowering blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol. And since stress wreaks havoc on blood glucose levels, healing, bone density and the aging process, friends are able to counteract its detrimental effects as indicated in a Harvard Medical School Nurse’s Health Study. The more friends a woman has, the less likely she is to develop health problems as she becomes older. Therefore, more friends equal more joy.” Dr. Silk further explains.
On the same note, a previous study has also determined that engaging in fun activities and bonding with friends is one of the best methods to be employed in stress management, the Mail states. Overall, there is nothing but benefits to be derived from a chat or a night out with female friends, especially for women.