Summary: A large new analysis suggests that friendships grow more valuable with age and can have a greater impact on health and happiness than family ties.
Source: Michigan State University
Friendship strengthens with age and can outweigh family ties in promoting health and well‑being, new research indicates.
A researcher at Michigan State University examined hundreds of thousands of participants and found that friendships become increasingly central to happiness and health as people grow older. In some cases, supportive friendships are stronger predictors of well‑being among older adults than relationships with family members.
William Chopik, an assistant professor of psychology, analyzed data from two large studies. The first drew on survey responses from 271,053 people across nearly 100 countries and explored how the value people placed on different relationships related to self‑rated health and happiness. The second study followed 7,481 older adults in the United States, tracking relationship support and strain alongside chronic illness and subjective well‑being over time.
Across the full adult lifespan, both family and friend relationships were associated with better health and higher happiness. However, Chopik’s analyses showed a key distinction: the positive influence of friendships on health and happiness strengthened at older ages, while the influence of valuing family remained relatively consistent across the lifespan.
The longitudinal study of older adults reinforced these findings. When friendships were a source of strain—marked by conflict, disappointment, or stress—participants reported a greater number of chronic illnesses over time. Conversely, when friendships provided support—emotional help, companionship, or practical aid—participants experienced higher levels of subjective well‑being.
Chopik suggests several reasons friendships may become more protective and important with age. Unlike many family relationships, friendships are largely voluntary: over the years people tend to keep friends who bring positive experiences and drop relationships that are draining. Friends often fill roles that spouses or children may not, offering social support and day‑to‑day companionship. For older adults who have lost partners, live apart from family, or retire from work, strong friendships can prevent loneliness and help rebuild a meaningful social life.
Family ties can also be a great source of comfort, he notes, but they sometimes include complex obligations, repetitive or tense interactions, and responsibilities that can detract from overall well‑being. By contrast, enduring friendships are more likely to reflect mutual choice and shared enjoyment, qualities that support better mood and health.
“Friendships help us stave off loneliness but are often harder to maintain across the lifespan,” Chopik said. “If a friendship has survived the test of time, it’s likely a relationship you turn to for help and advice—a person you genuinely want in your life.”
Despite mounting evidence for the importance of friendships—especially in later life—research into close relationships often emphasizes family and spousal ties. Chopik argues that friendships deserve more attention from researchers, clinicians, and policymakers working to promote healthy aging.
Practical implications flow from these findings: investing time and effort in sustaining close friendships may yield significant returns for emotional health and physical well‑being, particularly for older adults. Community programs, retirement planning, and health interventions that foster social connections and reduce friendship strain could help improve quality of life and potentially influence long‑term health outcomes.
Source: Andy Henion, Michigan State University
Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image used for illustration
Original Research: “Associations among relational values, support, health, and well‑being across the adult lifespan” by William J. Chopik, published in Personal Relationships. Published online June 2, 2017. DOI: 10.1111/pere.12187
Michigan State University (2017). Are Friends Better For Us Than Family? Neuroscience News. Published June 6, 2017.
Abstract
Associations among relational values, support, health, and well‑being across the adult lifespan
This research asks whether the connections between close relationships and health and well‑being are constant across life or whether benefits become more evident in older adulthood, when health concerns rise. Study 1 used a cross‑sectional survey of 271,053 adults and found that valuing friendships was linked to better functioning, with particularly strong effects among older adults. Valuing family relationships showed a stable, age‑invariant association with health and well‑being. Study 2 followed 7,481 older adults longitudinally and found that friendship strain predicted increases in chronic illnesses over a six‑year period, while support from spouses, children, and friends predicted higher subjective well‑being over an eight‑year period.