Staying Connected: A Powerful Longevity Strategy

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Studies have shown that having an active social life can contribute immensely to your emotional well-being. And now, findings published in the July issue of PloS Medicine prove that strong social relationships can also help keep you alive and physically well.

Researchers at Brigham Young University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reviewed 148 studies (involving a total of more than 300,000 men and women) to evaluate the impact of social relationships on longevity. They found that strong social connections — with family, friends and colleagues — were correlated with a 50% reduced risk of death. This held true regardless of age, sex or cause of death.

The researchers concluded that the positive effects of healthy social connections on lifespan are comparable to those of lifestyle factors better known for their beneficial effects on longevity, like being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking. In fact, they equated the life-shortening effects of prolonged loneliness to the damage caused by smoking 15 cigarettes a day on a regular basis! According to their findings, a lack of social connectedness poses an even greater risk than never exercising or being significantly overweight.

The researchers say that their findings prove conclusively that our interpersonal relationships play a vital role in ensuring that we live long, healthy lives.

Sources:

Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Layton JB. Social relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review. PloS Medicine. 2010 Jul 27;7(7):e1000316.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2006938,00.html

Tags: emotional health, healthy aging, longevity, social ties