Friendships can save lives

People often turn to their friends for a shoulder to lean on when times get difficult, however people do not often realise how beneficial that friendship could actually be.

The study, carried out by a team at The Brigham Young University, looked at the survival odds within social networks over a period of seven years.

The astounding results showed that by having few friends you are putting yourself at a similar risk to if you were smoking 15 cigarettes a day or being an alcoholic.

The research found that by taking care of others it encourages you to take better care of yourself.

Lead researcher, Julianne Holt-Lundstad said: ‘When someone is connected to a group and feels responsible for other people, that sense of purpose and meaning translates to taking better care of themselves.’

Although friendships may not always appear to be lifesaving, the isolation and loneliness that face many people who do not get the chance to interact can lead to symptoms of depression and other threatening illnesses.

‘Friendships are essential to human survival’, said Christine Northam, a counsellor at Relate.

By Lauren King