How much time your kids spend with their friends could predict their health as adults

A decades-long study suggests boys who spend more time with their friends grow up to have lower blood pressure and lower BMIs.

“These findings suggest that our early social lives may have a small protective influence on our physical health in adulthood," said study co-author Jenny Cundiff, a psychological scientist at Texas Tech University, in a statement.

"It’s not just our caregivers or financial circumstances, but also our friends who may be health protective."

Cundiff and her colleagues were inspired by studies (such as this one) indicating good health in old age is strongly predicted by adult friendships in earlier decades — moreso than family and romantic relationships.

To determine if there's a similar effect in childhood and adolescence, the researchers pored over detailed data drawn from more than 250 school-age boys. Included in there were reports from the boys' parents about how much time they spent with friends.

At age 32, the boys who'd spent most time with their friends scored better on some health markers.

Cundiff cautioned the study is small, only measures one type of social interaction, and doesn't include more specific health data (like cardiovascular function).

But "the study] provides a strong clue that being socially integrated early in life is good for our health independent of a number of other factors such as personality, weight in childhood, and the family’s social status in childhood,” she concluded.

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