why are personal relationships important?

About 148 studies have found out that people with strong social relationships are 50% less likely to die prematurely.

For example living with a partner adds 3 years to life expectancy.

Studies have found out that if a caring friend supports you during a stressful period, you can recover faster.

On the contrary people in stressfull relationships obviously experience even more stress as well as higher blood pressure.

Studies have also ensured that strong relationships can contribute to the health of people of any age. For example the research of Sheldon Cohen (a psychologist) has proved that college students with strong friendships are more likely to catch a cold. Another study show how loneliness, for older people, is a bad factor which can predict poor health.