August 2007

There may be more good reasons than the obvious to have friends.

It's been known for a while that our relations with others can affect longevity – married men, for instance, live longer than unmarried ones on average. But an Australian study suggests that it's not just close family that counts.

Monitoring 1 477 people over the age of 70 for 10 years, scientists found that those with the strongest network of friends tended to live longest, whereas contact with relatives made little difference.

The team suggest that friends might affect health behaviours such as smoking and drinking, as well as boosting mood and self-esteem, which can have a positive physiological effect in the same way stress can have a negative one.