When did you last see your mother? Does she live with you? Do you visit him often? According to some studies, mothers live longer when they spend more time with their children. Another reason to see your mom a lot more often!
What science says
According to a 2012 study done by the University of California at San Francisco, you should spend more time with your mother. The study concluded that loneliness is an important factor in the decline in quality of life among older adults, including the risk of depression, cognitive impairment, and health problems such as coronary heart disease.
Researchers focused on 1,600 adults with an average age of 71 years. They found that 23% of participants who reported being alone died six years after the study, while only 14% of those who reported having died died during the same six-year period.
The results of the study were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, and remained constant even after taking into account health status and socioeconomic status.
Older people tend to fall into a sedentary lifestyle. Having friends and loved ones with whom to spend time prevents them from being bedridden. Losing weight and staying active is much easier for older people who have close family.
The link between health and social bonds
According to another study published in 2010 in the journal PLoS Medicine, the results revealed that social relationships are as significant as weight loss and physical activity in obese people.
According to Julianne Holt-Lunstad, author of the study and associate professor of psychology at Brigham Young University, Utah, social connections are not only important for quality of life, but also for the longevity of life. -this.
She explains that since ancient times humans have relied on each other to survive on food and protection. So, although modern times offer more opportunities to be independent, humans still need each other.
The results of the research also revealed that social isolation and loneliness are detrimental to human health. In fact, feeling alone has a negative effect on our health greater than obesity or smoking.
Going out with people we love allows you to spend pleasant moments and laugh. And laughter is a powerful antidote to poor health, it improves the immune system, stimulates blood circulation and mental activity, and lowers blood pressure.
Call your mother
In view of this information, do not wait to call your mother and plan an activity with her. When you spend time with your parents, you also benefit. There is no one who can understand you better than your mother and your father. In addition, they are always there for you and their wisdom can be very beneficial for your personal and professional life.
It should also be noted that grandparents who care for their grandchildren live longer. According to a study conducted in Germany in 2017, grandparents who regularly care for their grandchildren live longer than adults of the same age.
The study looked at 500 adults aged 70 and over, and found that grandparents who care for their grandchildren had a 37% lower mortality risk. This increase in life expectancy proves once again the need for social links for a healthy life.
Never miss spending time with your grandparents, which is good for them and you too. There are millions of things you can do with your parents and grandparents, just visit them or invite them to visit you.
Improve family ties
Here are some tips to improve your relationship with your parents and grandparents:
- Spend holidays with your parents or grandparents away from home.
- Try to find a balance between your life and your work. It means spending more time with your family, having enough time to do your homework, and enough time to pursue your personal interests.
- Turn off the television and forget about your smartphone to have a real conversation with your family and discuss important topics.
- Organize family dinners, and try to spend the holidays with the family during the year. These are important opportunities to strengthen your family ties and contribute to better mental health.
