11 Nov Strong Relationships have Mortality Benefit

One of the most notable studies supporting a link between relationships and mortality is a Swedish study of 752 men from the town of Goteborg.  In the study they followed these men for seven years making note of their emotional stressors and medical illnesses.  Men who had originally reported being under intense emotional stress had a death rate 3 times greater than those who said their lives were calm and placid.  The emotional distress was due to such things as serious financial trouble, feeling insecure at work or being forced out of a job, being the object of legal action, or going through a divorce, etc.  Having 3 or more of these troubles within the year before the study was a stronger predictor of dying within the ensuing 7 years than medical indicators such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, obesity, and smoking.  The most interesting point however was that men who said they had a dependable web of intimacy, a wife, close friends, and the like, showed no relationship whatsoever between high stress levels and death rate.  Having a strong support group seems to have offered protection.

BMJ Oct 19, 1993

The morale of the story – Be intentional about your relationships.  Your life may depend on it!