{"id":3470,"date":"2026-05-10T01:21:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T05:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/?p=3470"},"modified":"2026-05-10T03:35:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T07:35:49","slug":"friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Strong Friendships Support Both Physical &amp; Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-takeaways\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Strong friendships are linked with longer life and lower health risks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Close social ties can ease stress and support steadier mental health.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supportive friends often help people sleep better and stay more active.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Friendship quality tends to count more than the size of a circle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loneliness and social isolation are tied to poorer health outcomes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-the-research-shows\"><strong>What The Research Shows<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-connection-amp-longevity\">Connection &amp; Longevity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Researchers have studied social ties for decades and the overall direction is strikingly consistent. People with stronger social relationships tend to live longer than people with weak or strained ties, even after accounting for many other health risks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Large reviews have found that social connection is linked with lower mortality risk across different ages and settings (<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pmed.1000316\">1<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41562-023-01617-6\">2<\/a>). More recent reviews have also separated loneliness from social isolation and found that both are linked with worse health outcomes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One describes loneliness as the painful feeling of lacking connection while isolation refers more to limited contact or support, and both can affect health through slightly different routes. Researchers have linked these states with higher mortality risk and poorer cardiovascular outcomes over time (<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41562-023-01617-6\">2<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25910392\/\">3<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/27091846\/\">4<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-friendships-help-the-mind\"><strong>How Friendships Help The Mind<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-stress-amp-mood\">Stress &amp; Mood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Strong friendships can soften the impact of stress by giving people a place to talk, reflect and feel understood. Social support can reduce the sense of being alone with a problem, which often lowers emotional strain and helps people recover more steadily after hard events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Researchers have linked loneliness with depression and poorer emotional health across many studies, even when other factors are considered (<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0190033\">5<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022146510383501\">6<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Good friendships also support a stronger sense of belonging. Feeling known by others can steady self esteem and reduce the constant vigilance that often comes with disconnection. Over time, that sense of safety can support better mental health and a more stable daily rhythm (<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022146510383501\">6<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.3399889\">7<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-daily-resilience\">Daily Resilience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Friendships often shape how people cope with ordinary setbacks, not only major crises. A trusted friend can help someone think more clearly, pause before reacting and stay engaged with life during difficult weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Social relationships have been linked with healthier stress responses across the life span, which may help explain why connection is tied to both mental and physical health (<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.1511085112\">8<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.3399889\">7<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-quality-over-quantity\">Quality Over Quantity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A long contact list does not guarantee meaningful support. One close friend who is reliable, kind and emotionally available can be more valuable than many weak ties that never move past surface talk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Research on loneliness shows that subjective experience is central, which means a person can feel deeply alone even when surrounded by people (<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25910392\/\">3<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0190033\">5<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-friendships-help-the-body\"><strong>How Friendships Help The Body<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-heart-amp-sleep\">Heart &amp; Sleep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Friendship-2.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4504\" srcset=\"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Friendship-2.webp 600w, https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Friendship-2-300x200.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Friendships affect the body through stress pathways, habits and the nervous system. Chronic loneliness has been associated with higher risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, while stronger connection has been linked with lower cardiovascular risk in several cohort studies and reviews (<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/27091846\/\">4<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29588329\/\">9<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/heartjnl-2019-316250\">10<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-effects-build-over-time\"><strong>Why Effects Build Over Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-recovery\">Recovery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Friends often shape health in ordinary daily ways that barely stand out in the moment. Supportive relationships can encourage people to keep appointments, stay active, eat regular meals and follow through with routines that protect health over many years. Social ties may also help people recover after illness by reducing stress and keeping them engaged with care and daily life (<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24028260\/\">11<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12813116\/\">12<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sleep can improve when people feel emotionally secure and less isolated. A calmer mind at night can support better rest, and better rest feeds back into mood, focus and physical recovery the next day. Researchers often describe these effects as cumulative because repeated strain or repeated support can shape health over a long period (<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022146510383501\">6<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.1511085112\">8<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shared routines also help people stay connected to ordinary life during difficult periods. Friends can invite movement, conversation, laughter and a sense of purpose, all of which help counter withdrawal and inactivity. Those small repeated actions can add up into a stronger buffer against both mental strain and physical decline (<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.3399889\">7<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24028260\/\">11<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-strong-friendship-looks-like\"><strong>What Strong Friendship Looks Like<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-trust\">Trust<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Strong friendship is less about constant contact and more about consistency, honesty and mutual care. Healthy friends listen without turning every conversation back to themselves, and they show up in ways that feel steady rather than dramatic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A relationship like that gives the body and mind a sense of security that cannot be measured by follower counts or packed calendars. Respect also helps friendships stay protective instead of draining. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clear boundaries, warmth and reciprocity support closeness without pressure, while conflict, criticism and unreliability can turn a social tie into another source of stress. Supportive friendship is not about perfection, but it usually includes trust, emotional <a href=\"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/anxiety-causes-symptoms-management\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"443\">safety<\/a> and a real sense of being seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>For any health concerns or questions about a medical condition, get guidance from a physician or another appropriately trained clinician. Before changing your diet, supplements or health routine, talk with a licensed healthcare professional.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs\"><strong>FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-do-strong-friendships-really-affect-physical-health\"><strong>Do strong friendships really affect physical health?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Research has linked strong social relationships with lower mortality risk and better cardiovascular health. The effect seems to build through stress reduction, better daily habits and stronger recovery over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-can-friendships-improve-mental-health\"><strong>Can friendships improve mental health?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Supportive friendships can ease loneliness, lower emotional strain and strengthen a sense of belonging. Those effects can support steadier mood and better coping during stressful periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-is-friendship-quality-more-important-than-quantity\"><strong>Is friendship quality more important than quantity?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Quality often counts more than numbers alone. A few dependable relationships can offer more protection than a large social circle with little trust or emotional closeness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-does-loneliness-affect-health\"><strong>How does loneliness affect health?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Loneliness has been linked with poorer mental health and a higher risk of some physical health problems. Researchers also connect it with higher mortality risk in large reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-makes-a-friendship-health-supporting\"><strong>What makes a friendship health supporting?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Reliable contact, emotional safety, mutual care and respect tend to define the strongest friendships. Friendships with those qualities can support both the mind and the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-research\"><strong>Research<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T.B. and Layton, J.B. (2010) Social relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review. PLoS Medicine, 7(7), e1000316. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pmed.1000316\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pmed.1000316<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wang, F. et al. (2023) A systematic review and meta-analysis of 90 cohort studies of social isolation, loneliness and mortality. Nature Human Behaviour, 7(8), pp. 1307\u20131319. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41562-023-01617-6\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41562-023-01617-6<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T.B., Baker, M., Harris, T. and Stephenson, D. (2015) Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), pp. 227\u2013237. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25910392\/\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25910392\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Valtorta, N.K., Kanaan, M., Gilbody, S., Ronzi, S. and Hanratty, B. (2016) Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal observational studies. Heart, 102(13), pp. 1009\u20131016. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/27091846\/\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/27091846\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rico-Uribe, L.A., Caballero, F.F., Mart\u00edn-Mar\u00eda, N., Cabello, M., Ayuso-Mateos, J.L. and Miret, M. (2018) Association of loneliness with all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 13(1), e0190033. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0190033\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0190033<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Umberson, D. and Montez, J.K. (2010) Social relationships and health: a flashpoint for health policy. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 51(Suppl), pp. S54\u2013S66. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022146510383501\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022146510383501<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>House, J.S., Landis, K.R. and Umberson, D. (1988) Social relationships and health. Science, 241(4865), pp. 540\u2013545. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.3399889\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.3399889<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yang, Y.C., Boen, C., Gerken, K., Li, T., Schorpp, K. and Harris, K.M. (2016) Social relationships and physiological determinants of longevity across the human life span. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 113(3), pp. 578\u2013583. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.1511085112\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.1511085112<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hakulinen, C. et al. (2018) Social isolation and loneliness as risk factors for myocardial infarction, stroke and mortality: UK Biobank cohort study of 479 054 men and women. Heart, 104(18), pp. 1536\u20131542. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29588329\/\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29588329\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gronewold, J., Kropp, R., Lehmann, N., Schmidt, B., Weyers, S., Siegrist, J., Stang, A., Bauer, M., Mahabadi, A.A., J\u00f6ckel, K.-H. and Moebus, S. (2020) Association of social relationships with incident cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Heart, 106(17), pp. 1317\u20131323. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/heartjnl-2019-316250\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/heartjnl-2019-316250<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pantell, M. et al. (2013) Social isolation: a predictor of mortality comparable to traditional clinical risk factors. American Journal of Public Health, 103(11), pp. 2056\u20132062. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24028260\/\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24028260\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Berkman, L.F. et al. (2003) Effects of treating depression and low perceived social support on clinical events after myocardial infarction: the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease Patients randomised trial. JAMA, 289(23), pp. 3106\u20133116. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12813116\/\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12813116\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Long, R.M., Terracciano, A., Sutin, A.R., Creaven, A.M., Gerstorf, D., D\u2019Arcy-Bewick, S. and O\u2019S\u00failleabh\u00e1in, P.S. (2023) Loneliness, social isolation, and living alone associations with mortality risk in individuals living with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression. Psychosomatic Medicine, 85(1), pp. 8\u201317. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36441849\/\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36441849\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hodgson, S., Watts, I., Fraser, S., Roderick, P. and Dambha-Miller, H. (2020) Loneliness, social isolation, cardiovascular disease and mortality: a synthesis of the literature and conceptual framework. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 113(5), pp. 185\u2013192. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32407646\/\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32407646\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Berkman, L.F. and Syme, S.L. (1979) Social networks, host resistance, and mortality: a nine-year follow-up study of Alameda County residents. American Journal of Epidemiology, 109(2), pp. 186\u2013204. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/425958\/\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/425958\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seeman, T.E., Kaplan, G.A., Knudsen, L., Cohen, R. and Guralnik, J. (1987) Social network ties and mortality among the elderly in the Alameda County Study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 126(4), pp. 714\u2013723. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3631060\/\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3631060\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kawachi, I., Colditz, G.A., Ascherio, A., Rimm, E.B., Giovannucci, E., Stampfer, M.J. and Willett, W.C. (1996) A prospective study of social networks in relation to total mortality and cardiovascular disease in men in the USA. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 50(3), pp. 245\u2013251. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/8935453\/\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/8935453\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Elovainio, M., Hakulinen, C., Pulkki-R\u00e5back, L., Virtanen, M., Josefsson, K., Jokela, M., Vahtera, J. and Kivim\u00e4ki, M. (2017) Contribution of risk factors to excess mortality in isolated and lonely individuals: an analysis of data from the UK Biobank cohort study. The Lancet Public Health, 2(6), pp. e260\u2013e266. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/28626828\/\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/28626828\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bu, F., Zaninotto, P. and Fancourt, D. (2020) Longitudinal associations between loneliness, social isolation and cardiovascular events. Heart, 106(18), pp. 1394\u20131399. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32461329\/\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32461329\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Golaszewski, N.M., LaCroix, A.Z., Godino, J.G. et al. (2022) Evaluation of social isolation, loneliness, and cardiovascular disease among older women in the US. JAMA Network Open, 5(2), e2146461. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/35107574\/\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/35107574\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Foster, H.M.E. et al. (2023) Social connection and mortality in UK Biobank: a prospective cohort analysis. BMC Medicine, 21(1), 384. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/37946218\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/37946218<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways What The Research Shows Connection &amp; Longevity Researchers have studied social ties for decades and the overall direction is strikingly consistent. People with stronger social relationships tend to live longer than people with weak or strained ties, even after accounting for many other health risks. Large reviews have found that social connection is &#8230; <a title=\"Why Strong Friendships Support Both Physical &amp; Mental Health\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Why Strong Friendships Support Both Physical &amp; Mental Health\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4505,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"default","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"default","_google_business_share_type":"default","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":true,"datetime":"2026-05-10 05:21:00","platforms":[],"status":"pending_publication","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[169,171],"tags":[566,478,431],"class_list":["post-3470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brain-mental-health","category-stress-physiology","tag-friendship","tag-mental-health","tag-wellness"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why Strong Friendships Support Both Physical &amp; Mental Health - Open Integrative<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how strong friendships support mental &amp; physical health through lower stress, better habits, stronger resilience &amp; social support.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why Strong Friendships Support Both Physical &amp; Mental Health\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how strong friendships support mental &amp; physical health through lower stress, better habits, stronger resilience &amp; social support.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Open Integrative\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/openintegrative\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-10T05:21:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-10T07:35:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Friendship.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Open Integrative\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@OIntegrati51853\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@OIntegrati51853\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Open Integrative\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"Article\",\"BlogPosting\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Open Integrative\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b4b71fb5a90c888273e5c28f6dab8ad4\"},\"headline\":\"Why Strong Friendships Support Both Physical &amp; Mental Health\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-10T05:21:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-10T07:35:49+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1762,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Friendship.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"Friendship\",\"Mental Health\",\"Wellness\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Brain &amp; Mental Health\",\"Stress Physiology\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"copyrightYear\":\"2026\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\\\/\",\"name\":\"Why Strong Friendships Support Both Physical &amp; Mental Health - Open Integrative\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Friendship.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-10T05:21:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-10T07:35:49+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn how strong friendships support mental & physical health through lower stress, better habits, stronger resilience & social support.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Friendship.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Friendship.webp\",\"width\":720,\"height\":720,\"caption\":\"Friendship\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Why Strong Friendships Support Both Physical &amp; Mental Health\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Open Integrative\",\"description\":\"Reparative Health &amp; Wellness\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"Organization\",\"Place\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Open Integrative\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\\\/#local-main-organization-logo\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\\\/#local-main-organization-logo\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/openintegrative\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/OIntegrati51853\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/openintegrative\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.com\\\/openintegrative\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/openintegrative\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/medium.com\\\/@openintegrative\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.quora.com\\\/profile\\\/Open-Integrative\\\/\"],\"description\":\"Open Integrative is an online-first platform that strives to provide an enlightening and engaging experience to all users. Our content is always informative and written in a humorous and positive tone to keep readers entertained without sacrificing substance. Although scientific information can be boring at times, we want to provide helpful advice that is easy to understand and enjoyable to read. We provide tips and tricks for healthy eating, exercising, and stress management. We aim to help you on your journey to feeling healthier and more energetic. We also provide inspirational quotes and mindfulness suggestions to help keep you motivated and feeling great. Get the absolute best supplement recommendations for optimal health with up-to-date, well-researched wellness advice clearly delivered. We only recommend products that are natural, high-quality, and designed to provide maximum benefits supplied by brands we trust. We believe that wellness entails more than just taking supplements, it\u2019s about positive thinking, having humor, and healthy lifestyle choices.\",\"telephone\":[],\"openingHoursSpecification\":[{\"@type\":\"OpeningHoursSpecification\",\"dayOfWeek\":[\"Sunday\",\"Monday\",\"Tuesday\",\"Wednesday\",\"Thursday\",\"Friday\",\"Saturday\"],\"opens\":\"09:00\",\"closes\":\"17:00\"}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b4b71fb5a90c888273e5c28f6dab8ad4\",\"name\":\"Open Integrative\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3759e928759c65df4d61896a7a2069f52afd62f2b37907a5dbf0669a922bfea3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3759e928759c65df4d61896a7a2069f52afd62f2b37907a5dbf0669a922bfea3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3759e928759c65df4d61896a7a2069f52afd62f2b37907a5dbf0669a922bfea3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Open Integrative\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/open-integrative\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\\\/#local-main-organization-logo\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/cropped-Open-Integrative-O.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/openintegrative.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/cropped-Open-Integrative-O.jpg\",\"width\":304,\"height\":295,\"caption\":\"Open Integrative\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Why Strong Friendships Support Both Physical &amp; Mental Health - Open Integrative","description":"Learn how strong friendships support mental & physical health through lower stress, better habits, stronger resilience & social support.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Why Strong Friendships Support Both Physical &amp; Mental Health","og_description":"Learn how strong friendships support mental & physical health through lower stress, better habits, stronger resilience & social support.","og_url":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/","og_site_name":"Open Integrative","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/openintegrative","article_published_time":"2026-05-10T05:21:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-05-10T07:35:49+00:00","og_image":[{"width":720,"height":720,"url":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Friendship.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"Open Integrative","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@OIntegrati51853","twitter_site":"@OIntegrati51853","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Open Integrative","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["Article","BlogPosting"],"@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/"},"author":{"name":"Open Integrative","@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b4b71fb5a90c888273e5c28f6dab8ad4"},"headline":"Why Strong Friendships Support Both Physical &amp; Mental Health","datePublished":"2026-05-10T05:21:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-10T07:35:49+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/"},"wordCount":1762,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Friendship.webp","keywords":["Friendship","Mental Health","Wellness"],"articleSection":["Brain &amp; Mental Health","Stress Physiology"],"inLanguage":"en-US","copyrightYear":"2026","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/","url":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/","name":"Why Strong Friendships Support Both Physical &amp; Mental Health - Open Integrative","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Friendship.webp","datePublished":"2026-05-10T05:21:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-10T07:35:49+00:00","description":"Learn how strong friendships support mental & physical health through lower stress, better habits, stronger resilience & social support.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Friendship.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Friendship.webp","width":720,"height":720,"caption":"Friendship"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Why Strong Friendships Support Both Physical &amp; Mental Health"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/","name":"Open Integrative","description":"Reparative Health &amp; Wellness","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["Organization","Place"],"@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Open Integrative","url":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/#local-main-organization-logo"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/#local-main-organization-logo"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/openintegrative","https:\/\/x.com\/OIntegrati51853","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/openintegrative\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/openintegrative\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/openintegrative\/","https:\/\/medium.com\/@openintegrative","https:\/\/www.quora.com\/profile\/Open-Integrative\/"],"description":"Open Integrative is an online-first platform that strives to provide an enlightening and engaging experience to all users. Our content is always informative and written in a humorous and positive tone to keep readers entertained without sacrificing substance. Although scientific information can be boring at times, we want to provide helpful advice that is easy to understand and enjoyable to read. We provide tips and tricks for healthy eating, exercising, and stress management. We aim to help you on your journey to feeling healthier and more energetic. We also provide inspirational quotes and mindfulness suggestions to help keep you motivated and feeling great. Get the absolute best supplement recommendations for optimal health with up-to-date, well-researched wellness advice clearly delivered. We only recommend products that are natural, high-quality, and designed to provide maximum benefits supplied by brands we trust. We believe that wellness entails more than just taking supplements, it\u2019s about positive thinking, having humor, and healthy lifestyle choices.","telephone":[],"openingHoursSpecification":[{"@type":"OpeningHoursSpecification","dayOfWeek":["Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday"],"opens":"09:00","closes":"17:00"}]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b4b71fb5a90c888273e5c28f6dab8ad4","name":"Open Integrative","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3759e928759c65df4d61896a7a2069f52afd62f2b37907a5dbf0669a922bfea3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3759e928759c65df4d61896a7a2069f52afd62f2b37907a5dbf0669a922bfea3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3759e928759c65df4d61896a7a2069f52afd62f2b37907a5dbf0669a922bfea3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Open Integrative"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog"],"url":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/author\/open-integrative\/"},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/friendships-support-both-physical-mental-health\/#local-main-organization-logo","url":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cropped-Open-Integrative-O.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cropped-Open-Integrative-O.jpg","width":304,"height":295,"caption":"Open Integrative"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3470"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4669,"href":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3470\/revisions\/4669"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openintegrative.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}