Tag Archives: friendship
Your Social Network Can Improve Your Health
I bet you’re not surprised: Study after study has confirmed what most women already know – friendships are good for your health. The Nurses Health Study found that the greater the number of friends in your social network, the more healthful and joyful a life you lead. The MacArthur Foundation concluded that social support helps women cope with difficult times. Shelley Taylor and her colleagues at UCLA determined that befriending other women helps women live longer and more satisfying lives. So when you’re setting up your personal health plan, be … Continue reading
Women, Friendship and Reconnecting
September is National Women’s Friendship Month, so take the time to recognize and nurture the friends who play an important role in your life. Midlife is a great time to reconnect. When you’re young, friends help form your identity. As a teenager, with the need for acceptance by peers, your self esteem is impacted by how they see you. Later on, when your family becomes more self sufficient, friends often return to the forefront. And as you plan the next chapter of your life, you can turn to them for … Continue reading
Boomer Women’s Friendships Can Be Complicated
As boomer women in the sandwich generation who are caring for parents growing older and kids growing up, your life may be full of challenges – especially in this tough economy. In times of need, who is it that you turn to? Whether you need a friend in your court who really understands or one who has your best interests at heart, these tips may help you get what you’re looking for: Receive as well as give support. Perhaps it’s hard for you to ask for help if you’re the … Continue reading
Women and Friendship: Emotional Support
You probably don’t need proof that the emotional support you get from friends is vital, but here it is. Ten years ago a UCLA study proposed that a cascade of brain chemicals released when we’re stressed causes us to seek out other women. This ‘tend and befriend’ notion, developed by psychologists Drs. Shelley Taylor, Laura Klein and their associates, may explain why social ties reduce our risk of disease and help us live longer. Friends also help us live better. Research about coping after the loss of a partner indicates … Continue reading
