Global study links fulfilling friendships to better health across 22 countries

A study published in the Journal of Mental Health has found that satisfaction with friendships and close relationships is strongly associated with better self-reported mental and physical health across diverse populations. The research, conducted by Dr. Veli Durmuş of Kütahya Health Sciences University in Türkiye, analyzed data from 204,907 adults aged 18 and over drawn from the first phase of the Global Flourishing Study.

The survey covered 22 countries spanning Europe, the Americas, Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Africa, including the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Spain, India, Japan, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, and Mexico. Participants rated their contentment with friendships and relationships, the quality of childhood relationships with parents, and their own mental and physical health on standardized scales.

Results showed that adults reporting the highest satisfaction with friendships and relationships also tended to report the best overall mental and physical health. A similar but weaker pattern emerged for those reporting very good childhood relationships with mothers and fathers, suggesting early family bonds may influence later well-being while adult social ties play a more immediate role.

The analysis accounted for variables including income, education, marital status, and religious identification. Being married, having sufficient financial resources, and identifying with a religion—particularly Islam—were associated with higher health scores. Mental health scores were lower among adults in their mid-30s to late 40s compared to younger and older age groups.

Notable variation appeared between countries. Respondents in Indonesia reported the highest contentment with friendships and relationships, while those in Japan reported the lowest. The author describes strong social relationships as a "universal pillar" of well-being across cultural backgrounds.

Dr. Durmuş emphasizes that the study's strength lies in its large, religiously and culturally diverse sample. However, the research cannot establish cause and effect due to its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported, subjective perceptions at a single point in time.