Good friends = Good health!
Tuesday 30 June 2009
Well here’s a lovely bit of news if ever we heard any!
A study has found the emotional bonds between women are good for their health – as well as for their children.
Research found the offspring of baboons whose mothers formed strong friendships with other females lived longer than those with less social mothers.
The study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, parallels previous studies showing that friends reduce mortality and improve health in humans – especially women.
Women thrive both emotionally and physically from close friendships with other women. These bonds are important for female wellbeing and livelihood.
It’s important for women to have close friendships with other women. Us females have a greater need to emotionally bond with others.
This need starts in childhood and increases during adolescence, when teenage girls find support from their female peers. Once reaching full adulthood, many young women regard the mother-daughter bond as one of their primary female relationships.
Female friends can boost each other’s self-worth through compliments, honest opinions, and suggestions. From these kind of exchanges and interactions, female comrades bring away an increased sense of happiness and fulfilment!
Primates are unusual in the way they establish bonds, particularly in species such as baboons where females remain in their natal groups throughout their lives.
Dr Joan Silk, of the University of California, said: “Females who formed stronger bonds with their mothers and adult daughters experienced higher off-spring survival rates.”
Well there you have it – next time you want to snap at your ‘interfering’ mother or ‘stubborn’ daughter – hold your tongue!
What are your relationships like with your female family and friends? Do you feel loyal relationships boost your mental AND physical health?
By Tasha Usefnia