It turns out friendship can improve heart health – but only for women

Friendship is good for the heart and soul – literally

Friendship is good for the heart – literally. Image: Getty

We all know friendships are great for mental wellness, but a new study proves they're great for your physical health too. There's just one caveat – it only works for women.

We know that friends are good for the soul, but it turns out that a little help from your friends can also make for healthier minds and bodies.

Yes, the results are in, and science proves that our friendships and social connections can have a wide range of health benefits  – from reducing the likelihood of premature death to lowering the risk of dementia and stroke.

Other research- and lots of it - has found that friendships can also positively affect our heart health.

“Many studies have found significant links between social health and heart health across the lifespan,” says Mistralle Brouillard, clinical evidence and policy advisor from The Heart Foundation.

 “Social isolation in childhood is associated with risk factors for heart disease and related conditions in adulthood. In a 2023 study of adults (ages 18-64) in the United States, those who reported rarely or never receiving social support were at almost double the risk of having multiple cardiovascular disease risk factors,” she says.

Social isolation can be a particularly significant concern for older adults. Image: iStock

Social isolation can be a particularly significant concern for older adults (Baby Boomers), who are one of the largest generations in Australia today, with poor social health associated with a 42% higher chance of developing cardiovascular disease Brouillard says.

A recent Australian study undertaken by Monash University found that among nearly 10,000 healthy Australians aged 70+ years with poor social health were 42 % more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) and twice as likely to die from it. On the flip side, those with strong social connections were at the opposite end of these findings- with their heart health benefiting greatly.

Friendship is only beneficial to the heart health of women and not men. Image: iStock

There’s a catch though - according to the research, this is a girls-only club – with friendship proving beneficial to the heart health of women and not men.

The study found women with three or more friends who they can “comfortably discuss private matters with” cut their CVD risk by almost 30 per cent, however for men, family proved more beneficial than friendship with their CVD risk reduced by 30 per cent if they had between three and eight relatives, they could chat to about private matters.

Having someone to talk to can help reduce levels of stress and improve mental health. Image: Pexels

For those who have their bunch of gal-pals, this is no doubt good news, however even for those who have been a bit socialising shy in the past, it’s not too late to turn it around and reap the immediate and long-term benefits. 

“There are a few different ways that social support is thought to impact on a person's heart health,” says Brouillard.

 “Having someone to talk to can help reduce levels of stress and improve mental health - key risk factors for heart disease. Keeping up with friends and loved ones can also provide support to improve eating habits, increase levels of physical activity and take medicines as prescribed.”

Additionally, for those who are already living with heart disease, good social support is also considered to be an important part of managing heart disease and recovering from heart events like heart attacks.

How to boost your social calendar. Image: Pexels

How to boost your social calendar

If you need the encouragement, try boosting your social commitments with these fun and easy ideas:

Walking

“Opportunities to interact and socialise with others are great motivators for physical activity,” says Brouillard.

“In particular, walking groups offer an easy, accessible way to get moving all the while catching up with friends, neighbours and loved ones.”

If you can manage to run and talk at the same time - firstly, well done, but secondly, this too could be a great option.

Share a meal

Or for those who are looking for a more relaxed pace, why not share a meal? 

“Another great way to connect with friends and family is over a delicious meal. Good social support can help promote healthy behaviours, like a heart-healthy eating pattern," says Brouillard.

Book clubs can be a great way to meet new people with a shared interest.  Image: Unsplash

Book clubs

Whether you’re inspired by BookTok or somewhere else, book clubs can be a great way to meet new people with a shared interest. 

Even if you only talk about the book for half of the time and sip on some wine for the other half, social connections are being formed and social isolation reduced, making this another tick for your heart health.

Use social media

Yes, that’s right- using social media for social connections was the original point. So, if you’re more of a homebody, joining virtual groups, dialling in a Zoom call with a friend, or even sending messages or emails can also be great ways to stay connected and help your heart health at the same time.

Originally published as It turns out friendship can improve heart health – but only for women