New study reveals: The more you hang out with your mum, the longer she'll live!
Quick, let her know!
By Frances Sheen
April 24 2019
Top researchers have discovered that spending time with your mum just might extend her life - and make her happier.
Scientists at San Fransisco’s University of California found that loneliness can seriously contribute to elderly people’s life expectancy and their quality of life.
The study followed 1,600 adults with an average age of 71, and found that those who were lonely consistently held higher mortality rates - with almost 23% of lonely participants dying within six years of the study. That compares to just 14% of those who had friends and hung out with their children and family.
‘The need we've had our entire lives—people who know us, value us, who bring us joy—that never goes away,’ Barbara Moscowitz, senior geriatric social worker at Massachusetts General Hospital, told The New York Times.
As well as inviting elderly relatives like your Nanna and your mum around, experts say it’s important to encourage new friendships in the later years of your life. She also says that it helps grandparents to spend time with their grandkids.
‘They're pretty tolerant of friends' imperfections and idiosyncrasies, more than young adults,’ she said. ‘You bring a lot more experience to your friendships when you're older. You know what's worth fighting about and not worth fighting about,' says Rosemary Blieszner, a professor of human development at Virginia Tech.
The other benefit of hanging out with your mum and grandmother? All those amazing hand-me-down recipes. Anyone for Nanna's trifle?!
