I knew it! Having lotsa friends is not only good for the soul, it is likewise good for the health. And, believe it or not, there is scientific basis to this.
A study conducted by researchers from the Brigham Young University in the US found a correlation between survival chances and being friendly. Survival odds can improve by as much as 50% by simply having a good network of friends and neighbors, the study found.
The explanation? It is way too simple it is almost impossible to believe: The Utah-based researchers arrived at the conclusion that “caring about others makes us take better care of ourselves.”
Now here are the much more interesting aspects of the study:
- Having few friends is as damaging to survival as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or being alcoholic (“Whoa!”)
- Losing the social support from friends is far worse than being obese or not exercising (Another “Whoa!”)
The study looked at over 300,000 people from four continents over a period of seven years.
Read the full story at BBC News/Health.
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Now I am wondering if my FaceBook friends and Twitter Followers would count.
