Wondering how many friends you should have? The good news is that it doesn’t matter how many friends you have, it’s the quality of your friendships that matters. Solid friendships make a difference to your mental health.
Men, women, the elderly and young people all need good friends.
What makes a friendship close and what makes a friendship distant? Surprisingly, it’s not about how often you see each other, it’s about connection.
Quality not quantity
The quality of a friendship can be measured by its impact in 6 main areas; mood, loneliness, life satisfaction, happiness, self-esteem and wellbeing. Relationships which boost these areas reflect a good friendship, while those which negatively impact these areas are considered to be of a lower quality.
Connection
Friendships where connection is strong can make a difference in how we approach life. If we feel accepted, rather than judged, listened to and understood, supported in good times and bad, the connection will be stronger. Being in a position to experience reciprocal empathy, where we can give and receive care, it’s even better. The give and take brings purpose and meaning to a friendship.
Fun is a factor
Of course, other things such as ‘clicking’ with a friend, having fun together and sharing common interests are also important. It takes some level of ‘letting your guard down’ to have fun with a friend. Looking foolish and being silly, no matter your age, can be hard if you don’t feel safe. Highly safe friendships are where the fun is abundant.
How many friends should you have? As many as you want. The amount of time you spend together or how many friends you have really doesn’t matter. Quality friendships require active engagement from 2 people who demonstrate a genuine interest in each other’s lives. That means, to have a quality friend, you need to be a quality friend. Good friends provide all the ingredients we need for good mental health, no matter how many you have.
