Poll shows role of close friendships in older adults’ health
December 12, 2024
Whether they’re lifelong buddies or recently connected, close to home or miles away, a new poll shows the key role that friends play in the lives and wellbeing of adults aged 50 and older.
But it also reveals some challenges for those who have physical health or mental health issues – suggesting it may be important for them connect with existing friends or make new friends.
In all, 90% of people aged 50 and older say they have at least one close friend, and 75% say they have enough close friends, according to findings from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging. What’s more, 70% of those with a close friend say they can definitely count on them to provide support in discussing their health.
But the percentage who said they don’t have any close friends was twice as high among people with worse health, with 20% of those who call their mental health fair or poor saying so, along with 18% of those who call their physical health fair or poor.
In addition, 47% of those with fair or poor mental health said they don’t have enough close friends. Older adults in fair or poor physical or mental health were also much more likely to say it’s harder to make friends now than earlier in life.
The poll is based at the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, and supported by AARP and Michigan Medicine, U-M’s academic medical center.
“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 Sarah Patterson, Ph.D., the U-M demographer who worked with the poll team on the new survey. Patterson is a research assistant professor at the U-M Institute for Social Research, in the Survey Research Center, and a member of IHPI.