Giving social support to others may boost your health

 

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/935641

 News Release 22-Nov-2021
Study finds reduced inflammation only in those willing to help
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Ohio State University

When it comes to your health, being willing to give social support to your spouse, friends and family may be just as important as receiving assistance, a new study suggests.

While researchers have long thought that receiving social support from others is a key to health, results from studies have shown mixed results. So researchers from The Ohio State University decided to see if giving support may also play an important role in health.

They found that on one important measure of health – chronic inflammation – indicators of positive social relationships were associated with lower inflammation only among people who said they were available to provide social support to family and friends.

In other words, having friends to lean on may not help your health unless you also say that you’re available to help them when they need it.

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