Participants who ticked at least six of the roles listed above basically, the people who had good social networks , were only half as likely to develop a cold in the days after being exposed to the cold virus, compared with those who were less socially integrated.
Cohen's study has been generalised in a mega-review of over 300,000 people, which showed that good social relationships can make use live 5 years longer. Five years is a long time. It is as good as smoking is bad. Smoking reduces your life span by an average of five years.
Why are social networks good for health?
Good social networks can improve our health in three main ways. First, friends can offer direct help. You might take a disabled friend for a walk, lend an ear to someone who is feeling sad, or inform a relative with an illness about a new treatment of which they have not heard. Researchers call this the main effects hypothesis.
Second, helpful friends and family can make you feel protected and less anxious, thus reducing the harmful effects of stress. This is called the stress buffering hypothesis. This was shown in a fascinating study of over 700 Swedish men. Researchers assessed the men's health and also handed the men questionnaires about:
- Whether they were experiencing stressful events in their lives, such as financial trouble, divorce, problems with the health of a family member
- Whether their social networks were providing emotional support
