Having a network of good friends is more important than close family contacts for helping the elderly live longer, scientists say.
In a 10-year study of nearly 1500 people over 70, researchers at Flinders University in Adelaide found those with the most friends lived longer.
"Survival time may be enhanced by strong social networks," said Lynne Giles in a report in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Contact with children and other family members had little impact on the 10-year survival, she said.
Ms Giles and her colleagues assessed how economic, social and behavioural and environmental factors affected the health of the aged.
Researchers monitored the participants annually for the first four years of the study and then at three year intervals. They also considered the impact of other factors such as health, lifestyle and socio-economic status.
"Greater social networks had significant protective effects against mortality over a 10-year follow-up period," said Ms Giles.
Scientists suspect that friends influence smoking and drinking behaviour and helping people cope in difficult times.
Professor Anthony Jorm of the Australian National University in Canberra said the study supported the need for a clinical trail to see whether social networks had a health benefit for the elderly.
"These findings suggest what sort of interventions might be useful in improving the health of older people," he said
- REUTERS
Good friends, not family, help extend life
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