Why Friends Are 'Better Than Morphine’

Friends can cheer us up and be a shoulder to cry on - and now, new research shows that having a bigger buddy list also better equips us to deal with pain.

Having lots of friends and strong social networks can be ‘better then morphine’ according to a new study conducted by the University of Oxford.
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"To test this theory, we relied on the fact that endorphin has a powerful pain-killing effect - stronger even than morphine," Katerina Johnson, a doctoral student in experimental psychology said.

The researchers found that people with more friends have higher activity of endorphins, which act as natural painkillers for the body.

The research assessed 101 adults between 18 and 34, who responded to questions about their lives and received a physical pain test. Participants who reported having more friends could handle more physical pain.

The research team also noted two other interesting findings - fitter people and those who reported high stress levels were likely to have smaller social networks.

It could be that fitness junkies are getting their endorphin fix from exercise, or that they have less time to factor their friends in.

The stress-related finding may imply that larger social networks help people to manage stress better, and that those under pressure have less time for social activity.

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"As a species, we've evolved to thrive in a rich social environment but in this digital era, deficiencies in our social interactions may be one of the overlooked factors contributing to the declining health of our modern society," said Johnson.

It's time to trade your tablet in for some serious friend time!