Why friendship may be your best defence against chronic illness

Half of all Australians have at least one of the major chronic illnesses. But experts say there are ways to reduce your risk – and social connection may be a good bet.

Good news! Hanging with your pals is not only good for your mental health, but a new study indicates that it might also help prevent chronic illness.

A recent study by University of Queensland researchers has indicated that social relationships may help protect older women from disease and chronic health conditions such as depression, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Research project leader Professor Gita Mishra and her team tracked more than 7600 Australian women aged between 45 and 50 for two decades as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health.

Every three years, participants answered questions about their health and social connectedness, with the results showing that 58.3 per cent of the women had developed more than one chronic disease during the 20 years of monitoring, and that those with the lowest relationship satisfaction scores had the highest odds of having multiple chronic diseases.

What is chronic illness?

Chronic diseases are generally characterised by their long-lasting effects and often persist throughout a person’s life, generally requiring the need for long-term health management.

Chronic conditions are the leading cause of illness, disability and death in Australia, according to the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Major chronic conditions

Research has shown that half of all Australians have at least one of the eight major chronic conditions:

• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Back pain
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Diabetes
• Mental health conditions

These conditions contribute to 37 per cent of hospitalisations and 87 per cent of deaths (based on underlying or associated causes of death).

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How friendship helps protect against chronic illness

Prof Mishra says that while further research is needed in the area, women can benefit from having high-quality, diverse relationships.

And it’s not the first study to indicate this.

Clinical psychologist and Australian National University Associate Professor Tegan Cruwys says the study was consistent with a large body of work showing a strong link between social connectedness and good health.

“A meta-analysis published in 2010 that summarised 150 studies found that poor social relationships was the strongest predictor of premature death, even stronger than some of ‘usual suspects’ like alcohol or higher body weight,” Assoc Prof Cruwys says.

“There are probably several mechanisms underlying this effect.

“For example, there are studies that have found that ostracism and social stress have acute effects on immune functioning, as well as more chronic effects on inflammatory processes in the body – so this can help us to understand why poor social relationships might increase your risk of so many different kinds of illnesses.”

She says in contrast, strong social group connections can be more impactful than singular bonds.

“What this study did not explore, but has proved important in other research, is the type of social relationships that best predict health,” Assoc Prof Cruwys says.

“It would seem that while one-on-one bonds are somewhat important, they are dwarfed by the role of social group connections – our sense of belonging to wider groups and communities.”

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Other ways to prevent chronic illness

While having healthy relationships with friends and family can have a positive effect on your physical health, reducing your risk factors can help prevent some of these conditions.

Public health expert Dr Sandro Demaio says shifting Australia’s healthcare focus from treatment to prevention through a holistic program that promotes healthy eating, physical activity and social connection may be the best way to tackle the chronic health crisis.

“By investing in these we can reduce the morbidity, mortality, complication, and functional disability rates of chronic illness, alleviating pressure on public health systems,” Dr Demaio says.

Lifestyle behaviours to beat chronic illness

Get active

• Cycle, walk or use public transport, rather than drive
• Use the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator
• Reduce screen time

Watch your diet

• Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables
• Include whole grains, lean proteins and oily fish
• Replace soft drinks and juice with water

Avoid unhealthy habits

• Don’t smoke or vape
• Consume alcohol in moderation
• Get plenty of rest

Nurture your mental health

• Check in with yourself; seek professional help if you’re struggling.

Written by Andrea Beattie.