Research is providing us with more and more proof that having friends is beneficial, if not essential, to good health. Many people are aware of the detrimental effects that social isolation and loneliness can have on physical and mental wellbeing, but fewer appreciate the advantages of keeping our important relationships close and personal. University of Oxford data shows that best friends’ physiology comes into synchrony – the rhythm of their hearts, body temperatures and hormonal responses match. Human touch also slows the heartbeat, lowers blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol. So our interaction with good friends actually keeps us alive and helps us live longer!
Dr. Robert Waldinger is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Center for Psychodynamic Therapy and Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development. The Study has studied the lives of 2 groups of men for over 75 years.
Dr. Jan Yager is a sociologist, freelance writer, coach, speaker, artist, and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York. She also teaches at Baruch College and William Paterson University. Jan has a Ph.D. from The City University of New York Graduate Center and an M.A. in criminal justice from Goddard College. She did a year of graduate work in art therapy at Hahnemann Medical College, took courses in nonfiction writing at the New School and editing and publishing in the NYU Publishing program. Jan majored in fine arts at Hofstra University which presented her with the Art Student of the Year award. Her 50+ award-winning books, translated into 34 languages, include the international hit relationship title, When Friendship Hurts: How to Deal With Friends Who Betray, Abandon, or Wound You, published by Simon & Schuster/Touchstone, and translated into 29 languages, as well as the business books Work Less, Do More: The 7-Day Productivity Makeover (in 10 languages); Productive Relationships (in 3 languages); Friendshifts: The Power of Friendship and How It Shapes Our Lives; the series 365 Daily Affirmations (with 5 books on happiness, relationships, time management, creative weight management, and friendship); Business Protocol; Effective Business and Nonfiction Writing; 125 Ways to Meet the Love of Your Life; Put More Time on Your Side; as well as children’s books (The Quiet Dog; The Reading Rabbit; The Cantaloupe Cat); and four novels (On the Run; The Pretty One; Untimely Death; and Just Your Everyday People); and journals including Birthday Tracker & Journal; Friendship Thoughts, Famous Quotes, and a Journal; Personal Journal; and more titles. (See the Books & More section of the site for a more comprehensive list of titles as well as available translations.) Jan has appeared on The View, the Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, CNN, NPR and other major shows.