Social Condition
Did you know that people who have a healthy social network have less chances of disease and tend to live a lot longer than those who don’t? A study that was conducted at Duke University Medical Center stated that men and women over the age of 65 found that the mortality rate was about four times higher in participants that have little to zero social support compared to those that do, even when all of the other health factors were mixed in such as:
- Health
- Gender
- Smoking
- Economic status
- Depression
Another interested study that was conducted in Sweden pointed out that social isolation is one of the best predictors of mortality. Many other studies have found that individuals who are “people person’s” or are able to initiate social contacts and organize activities well have the least amounts of disease and the longest survival rate compared to others.
Many scientists and researchers are now just realizing the importance of developing and sustaining friendships at any phase of life. In addition to immediate family, people should always have friends, in which are viewed as family by many older people. An interesting point to bring up is why do women live longer then men?
Many researchers are speculating that women are better at holding relationships with friends longer then men do. They have better skills in seeking and maintaining relationships. Mortality following the loss of a spouse is better in females because they have stronger social networks.
Highly recommended: Use the telephone more often, write letters and cards, send postcards, attend reunions, and nurture and sustain relationships with people of all ages throughout your lifetime. While many people consider retirement communities to be dull places filled of lonely elderly people they can’t be more off topic. A lot of times elderly people in the community make more friends than even the young community!