‘Tis the season for hearts and flowers and thepower of love—which we all know makes us feel wonderful, both mentally, emotionally and physically. However, it’s not just romantic love that makes us feel great; friendships also have a huge impact on our health and happiness, especially as we get older.
In fact, one recent two-partstudyfrom Michigan State University professor William J. Chopik revealed some enlightening results about the importance of friends. The study found that those who valued relationships with both friends and family generally enjoyed better health and were happier. Additionally, for participants aged 65 and over, friendships were a predictor of health and happiness.
“Friendships become even more important as we age,” said Chopik, assistant professor of psychology. “Keeping a few really good friends around can make a world of difference for our health and well-being. So it’s smart to invest in the friendships that make you happiest.”
This isn’t to say that maintaining good connections with family isn’t important to seniors, Chopik maintained. The study simply showed that enjoying friendships was a better predictor of health and happiness.
Chopik的结论是基于对来自近100个国家的27万名15-99岁人群的数据分析得出的。他们回答了关于他们有多重视各种关系以及他们感觉有多幸福的问题。为了观察这些自我评价是否会随着时间的推移而改变，他在几年的特定时间间隔跟踪了选定的代表性群体。
The second part of the study, involving 7,481 Americans with a median age of 68, also concluded that friendships had a significant impact on health, finding that when friends were supportive, respondents were happier. Conversely, when friendships caused strain or stress, respondents reported more chronic illnesses.
For some seniors, it can be challenging to maintain vital friendships as they age, especially if they live alone or have difficulty getting around. Attending community programs for seniors or volunteering are two great ways to make and maintain friendships; considering a move to a retirement community is another way to boost friendships, both new and current.
刚到高级住宅的人往往发现他们不仅有更多的机会遇到与他们有相同兴趣的人，他们也发现看到他们的老朋友变得更容易。不必担心做饭、打扫或维护家庭给了他们更多的时间来享受生活——包括他们多年来结交的好朋友。
Chartwell’s signatureLiveNowprogram is designed to help seniors stay active and engaged across every dimension of wellness, including fulfilling social programs. Learn more at www.familygivers.com.