Most of us will remember our first best friend. Whether you were inseparable youngsters who got up to mischief together or your buddy was the gatekeeper of your closest secrets and go-to confidant, chances are your number-one friend was an important factor in how you developed. Now research from Texas Tech University suggests that having a childhood best friend may actually lead to lower blood pressure in adulthood.
The researchers looked at data from the Pittsburgh Youth Study, which started when the 267 male participants attending schools in the city were six years old. Their parents were asked to report how much time their sons spent with friends each week between the ages of six and 16. The study also examined the children’s characteristics, such as extroversion and hostility, as well as socioeconomic factors, family status and environmental situations.
The analysis found children who spent more time with their friends in childhood tended to have lower BMIs and lower blood pressure by the time they turned 32. The researchers also concluded that there was no significant difference between participants’ ethnicity and the association between childhood friendship and adult health. The findings were published in the journal, Psychological Science.
