• Posted December 16, 2024

Friendships Are Especially Powerful Late in Life, Poll Says

Close friendships are incredibly important to the mental health of middle-aged folks and seniors, a new study finds.

Older adults with worse mental or physical health were twice as likely to say they don’t have any close friends, according to results from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.

“With growing understanding of the importance of social connection for older adults, it’s important to explore the relationship between friendship and health, and identify those who might benefit most from efforts to support more interaction,” said investigator Sarah Patterson, a research assistant professor with the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research.

Overall, 90% of people 50 and older said they have at least one close friend, and 75% say they have enough close friends, poll results showed.

But about 20% of those with fair to poor mental health and 18% of those in fair or poor physical health say they have no close friends, researchers found.

Another 47% of those in fair or poor mental health said they don’t have enough close friends, results show.

The poll also found that 79% of those with at least once close friend felt that they could turn to them for emotional support, and 50% had a friend who encouraged them to make healthier choices like eating better or getting more exercise. 

In addition, 35% said a close friend had encouraged them to get a symptom checked out by a health professional, while 32% had a friend who helped them when they were sick or injured.

“When health care providers see older adults, we should also ask about their social support network, including close friends, especially for those with more serious health conditions,” said poll director Dr. Jeffrey Kullgren, an associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan.

“In some cases, we may even see friends accompanying older adults to health care appointments, which 15% of those with close friends said a friend had done for them,” Kullgren added in a university news release. “We also need to be attuned to the mental health of those who have experienced the loss of a close friend.”

The poll also found that:

• Men were more likely than women to report having no close friends

• People aged 50 to 64 were more likely to be friendless than seniors 65 and older

• About 46% of older adults said they have a close friend from a different generation

• About 28% of older adults would like more contact with their close friends, particularly those in poorer mental or physical health

• Around 42% of older adults overall say it’s harder to make new friends now than when they were younger -- but 65% of those in fair or poor mental health and 55% of those in fair or poor mental health share that sentiment

• About 34% of older adults say it’s harder to maintain friendships now than when they were younger, but again the percentages were higher among those in fair or poor mental health (61%) or physical health (47%)

“This poll underscores the vital role friendships play in the health and well-being of older adults,” said Indira Venkat, senior vice president of research at AARP. “Strong social connections can encourage healthier choices, provide emotional support and help older adults navigate health challenges, particularly for those at greater risk of isolation.”

The survey involved 3,486 adults 50 and older polled online and on the phone in August 2024.

More information

Harvard Medical School has more on the importance of social connections for healthy aging.

SOURCE: University of Michigan, news release, Dec. 11, 2024