Healthy Relationships = Better Health and Increased Longevity
Social connections appear to be good for health. “People who are more socially connected to family, friends, and community are happier, healthier, and live longer than people who are less well connected,” says Dr. Waldinger.
It’s important to nurture or improve existing relationships with family, friends, and spouses. “People who work on their relationships and stay in relationships are happier,” explains Dr. Waldinger — even if the relationships have ups and downs. “It doesn’t have to be smooth all the time,” he says, “as long as you feel you can count on the other when the going gets tough.”