The science behind why men should meet their mates regularly.
If you have been cancelling plans in favour of sitting at home scrolling your phone while claiming you are “recharging”, science has some mildly judgemental news for you. Researchers from University of Oxford found that men who regularly spend time with close friends enjoy better mental and physical health. The study, led by Robin Dunbar, suggests men should ideally meet friends face to face at least twice a week to maintain strong social bonds and overall wellbeing. Yes, apparently your weekly pub visit may now qualify as preventative healthcare. Uh-oh ladies, now it’s going to be a twice a week!
The research found that strong social circles are linked to lower rates of depression, faster recovery from illness, reduced anxiety and improved immune function. Men with close friendships also tend to experience higher endorphin levels, which are the body’s natural mood boosting chemicals. According to Dunbar, activities such as sports, joking around and sharing a drink together help strengthen these social connections in ways that texting simply cannot replicate. Bad news for anyone who thought sending a thumbs up emoji in the group chat counted as emotional effort.
One particularly striking finding was that around 40 percent of men only meet friends once a week, despite the growing evidence that regular social interaction plays a major role in long term health. The idea is supported by organisations such as the Mental Health Foundation, which states that meaningful social relationships help reduce stress, improve self esteem and protect against loneliness. Researchers from Harvard University have also published findings through the Harvard Study of Adult Development showing that close relationships are one of the strongest predictors of happiness and healthy ageing. It turns out your body values friendship almost as much as sleep, vegetables and pretending you will definitely start exercising next Monday (ahem! we’ve all been through that promise of Monday).
The reassuring part is that improving your social health does not require dramatic life changes or joining a mountain climbing club at dawn. Sometimes it is simply about making the effort to meet people in person more often. Whether it is watching football together, having dinner, going for a walk or arguing passionately about which takeaway is superior, those interactions genuinely matter. Your brain and body seem to thrive on connection, laughter and shared experiences. So the next time you are debating whether to leave the house and meet your friends, push yourself!