5 ways to strengthen a friendship

IT MIGHT SOUND OBVIOUS, IN THE midst of a loneliness crisis, that having friends matters. But many of us "underestimate the very real impact our friendships can have on our life," says Marisa Franco, a psychologist and author of Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make-and Keep-Friends. "Connection is the most important factor predicting our health, both physical and mental."

- ANGELA HAUPT

A growing body of research supports that point: Healthy, stable friendships can protect against depression and anxiety, increase life satisfaction, extend longevity, and improve health metrics like blood pressure and body mass index. Those who don't have strong social connections, meanwhile, have an elevated risk of heart disease and stroke, Type 2 diabetes, addiction, and dementia. While many people assume it's the number of friends that counts, research indicates that quality is more important-and having even a small selection of close friends is a stronger predictor of happiness than having lots of casual connections.

Yet often people who feel disconnected focus on making new friends instead of nurturing existing connections. "There can be this feeling of 'I need to look elsewhere. I need to start a whole new circle of friends," says Miriam Kirmayer, a clini I psychologist who studies the science of friendship. "For many people, it's helpful to think about the friendships we already have in our lives. Even if they feel a little stale, there are ways we can revive them."