Friendship, Health, and Hurricane Sandy
- Posted on November 20, 2012
- in Two Minute Talks
- by admin
Hurricane Sandy, the deadly storm of Fall 2012, destroyed many homes and businesses on the northeast coast of the U.S. Such natural disasters remind us how important families and friends are to our surviving and prevailing. As it turns out, good connections with friends and family just makes good health sense. Here is an example from a physician’s perspective.
The diagnosis. “Based upon the history you gave me, the physical exam we did, and the results of the tests we ordered, I’m concerned,” said the doctor in a worried tone. “You are afflicted with Affiliation Friendship Deficit Disorder…AFDD. The implications of this illness
include but are not limited to heart disease, difficulties with childbirth, a wide range of infectious diseases, hypertension, and cardiac reactivity to acute stress.”
The prescription “I am prescribing several friendship and affiliation interventions, to be implemented right away.” This includes joining the book club in your neighborhood, going to counseling to improve your marital relationship, and calling your sister and parents at least two more times a week.”
It is likely that this conversation is not heard in most doctor’s offices…yet.
Things are changing. Why? There is growing scientific evidence citing the importance of friendship and affiliation to promote physical and mental health.
What is Affiliation and Friendship?
This refers to a personal “neighborhood” of family, friends, and co–workers who think about us, regard us well, care for us, and even love us, providing:
1. Practical help.
There are times when we just need some concrete assistance. This may include a place to stay, a ride, someone to watch our pet or children, some money, help with moving heavy objects, or food if we run out of items.
2. Emotional Support.
This comes our way when others tell us that they care and regard us highly. If suddenly laid off or experiencing an unexpected breakup, a family member or close friend might frequently check in, listen, and communicate that you re cared for.
3. Opinions and feedback. If we are totally immersed in a situation, we can lose perspective, get confused or feel helpless. Having a trusted person to tell the story to can give us the advantage of another and more objective view that can be critically helpful.
4. Facts and information. There are many times when we need practical knowledge about how to handle unfamiliar circumstances. This could include such stressful circumstances as contemplating how to handle the costs of college, deciding on how to invest for retirement, or handling questions on how to deal with a serious illness in the family
The Research?
Evidence regarding the health and well-being benefits of Affiliation and Friendship now cuts across gender and ages. There are scientific studies validating that Affiliation and Friendship promotes health for children, adolescents, and seniors.
One study (1) of cardiac health provides a great example. A national team of researchers from 8 major universities and hospitals studied 503 women. Cultivating a group of friends and family appears to be associated with a dramatically lower risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, being hospitalized, or death due to heart disease. In contrast, women who did not have strong relationships with others were more than twice as likely to die as their more sociable counterparts.
Based upon these findings, one of the study’s authors Carl J. Pepine, (2)
MD, Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine advised:
“In my view, the No. 1 take-home message is that if you are a woman with chest discomfort, have a lot of friends.”
Dr. Pepine continues: “This does not have to be a complicated network; this can be an intense relationship with one or two close friends or significant others. Many times these social networks are developed in church groups, in work groups, in recreational groups.”
Like the habits of proper exercise and nutrition, acquiring the tremendous health benefit of Affiliation and Friendship requires consistent work, discipline, and attention. No doubt. There are some challenges to developing Affiliation and Friendship. These can include: having children to raise, overcoming the inevitable disagreement with a family member or friend, letting go of grudges, being single after a divorce or death, alcohol or other drug use among friends, developing interests different from others, work schedules, and at times the apparent social impoverishment of some neighborhoods.
The wise among us will believe the scientific evidence and persevere in deepening connections with our families and friends. Consider the advice of my mother (3), a registered nurse and mother of nine: “Don’t hold grudges. Remember, friends and family multiply the joys and divide the sorrows.”
Rutledge T, Reis S, Olson M, Owens J, Kelsey S, Pepine C, Mankad S, Rogers W, Merz
C, Sopko G, Cornell C, Sharaf B, & Mathews K. Social networks are associated with lower mortality rates among women with suspected coronary disease: the national heart, lung, and blood institute-sponsored women’s ischemia syndrome study. Psychosomatic Medicine, 2004; 66: 882-888.
University of Florida Health Science Center, Size, strength of social
networks influence heart disease risk. Released: Wed. 16-Feb-2005.
Clabby V. Personal communication.