Health Benefits of Friendship

The Friendship Advantage

There is evidence that close friendships can provide health benefits not seen in family relationships. One study on aging found that people with the largest number of close friends outlived those with the fewest. Even one close friend might extend life by as much as 10 years, and friendship may impact longevity even more than family relationships.

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Review Date: 
March 7, 2014

Citation: 
Last Updated:
July 1, 2014