It’s said that you can choose your friends but not your family. Maybe, But it’s clear that good friends come with plenty of health benefits, Now research suggests that your friendships may be more important than family relationships when it comes to your health and happiness.
Researchers from Michigan State University carried out two studies published in Personal Relationships. They first looked at data from nearly 280,000 people from almost 100 countries worldwide. After comparing people’s friendships and family relationships with their physical and mental health, the team discovered that friendship was linked to higher scores of well-being (康乐) than family relationships.
The second study involved (涉及) almost 7, 500 older adults, and suggested that the quality of friendships had a much bigger influence on health than family relationships. People who reported stressful friendships were much more likely to suffer poor health compared to those who had positive friendships; the influence on health from good or bad family relationships was small.
Friendships are very important to well-being. For one, it’s easier to drop a bad friendship than it is to cut ties with a family member. Even better, friends can also provide social support when things get tough with family members, such as going through a divorce or when caring for an aged parent. And long-lasting friendships are less likely to be filled with guilt than a family relationship.
Of course, good friendships don’t just happen — they require time, but time spent on developing good friendships is worth it.
“Friendships help us shun loneliness but are often harder to maintain (维持) throughout the life,” explains William Chopik, PHD, assistant professor of psychology.“ If a friendship has survived the test of time, you know it must be a good one. It means you’ve found someone you turn to for help and advice often.”
7. What did the two studies focus on?
A.Examining the influence of friendships and family relationships on well-being. |
B.Telling people to pay more attention to friends instead of family members. |
C.Proving that friendships are the most important part of people’s life. |
D.Finding out the similarities between friends and family members. |
8. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?
A.How family members benefit our well-being. |
B.What family members are unable to do for us. |
C.when friendships can play a key part in our life. |
D.Why friendships are key to health and happiness. |
9. Which of the following statements does the author agree with?
A.Only time can test good friendships. |
B.Friendships can happen all the time. |
C.It takes time to gain good friendships. |
D.We should be patient with our friends. |
10. Which of the following best explains “shun” underlined in the last paragraph?
A.Avoid. | B.Predict | C.Experience | D.Value |