Why Friends of All Ages Make You Healthier and Happier

Friendship isn’t just about having someone to grab coffee with or vent to after a long day. Science now shows that who you’re friends with especially their age can deeply affect your health. While most of us gravitate toward friends in our same life stage, building connections with people decades younger or older may be a key to living a healthier, more connected life.

The Loneliness Epidemic Across All Ages

Data from the U.K.’s Community Life Survey highlights the three groups most at risk for chronic loneliness:

• Older adults who are widowed, living alone, and managing long-term health issues

• Middle-aged, unmarried adults also dealing with chronic conditions

• Younger adults, often renting and lacking strong community ties

One surprising solution? Cross-generational friendships. A growing body of research shows that building relationships across age divides not only reduces loneliness but also strengthens mental and physical health.

A 2023 study found that befriending someone outside your generation can boost empathy, reduce feelings of isolation, and create more inclusive social networks.

Friendship Across the Ages: Real-Life Benefits

Ariana Thao, 24, discovered the power of intergenerational friendships after moving to Chicago for law school. Feeling lonely and overwhelmed, she found support and mentorship through a nonprofit group where she connected with women two to three decades older than her.

“They offer reassurance that I can do this,” she says. “While my peers are still figuring things out, my older friends have already walked that road.”

For Kimberly Vue, 27, befriending coworkers in their 40s helped her navigate the complexities of being a first-generation professional.

“I felt like I was starting from ground zero,” she said. “Talking to older friends validated my experience and helped me find my footing in a new work culture.”

These types of relationships don’t just support younger adults they also benefit older adults, who are at increased risk of social isolation and the health consequences that come with it.

Intergenerational Friendships Are a Two-Way Street

While younger people gain mentorship and perspective, older adults often report greater life satisfaction, more open-mindedness, and even new skills when befriending younger individuals.

“Staying engaged and connected is crucial as we age,” says Neda Gould, PhD, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins. “Friendships with younger people can help keep older adults active, curious, and socially connected.”

Thao notes that she’s also been able to offer insight to her older friends discussing cultural topics like race, gender, and sexuality that they might not otherwise hear about.

“I’ve helped them better understand what their own kids might be going through,” she says.

Why This Matters for Your Health

Loneliness isn’t just a mood it’s a health issue. It’s been linked to:

• A 30% increased risk of heart disease

• Higher risk of stroke and dementia

• Poorer immune function

• Premature death on par with smoking 15 cigarettes a day

And women, particularly postmenopausal women, may be especially at risk. One large study involving nearly 58,000 women found that:

• Social isolation raised heart disease risk by 8%

• Loneliness raised it by 5%

• Those experiencing both had up to 27% greater risk⁴

Chronic loneliness may also double the risk of type 2 diabetes and worsen outcomes in people with heart failure.

“It is abundantly clear that human connection is as essential as a healthy diet or regular exercise,” says Diane Meier, MD, a professor of geriatrics at Mount Sinai. “Our species evolved in intergenerational groups. That’s how we’re meant to live.”

How to Build Intergenerational Friendships

Looking to broaden your social circle beyond your age bracket? Try these ideas:

• Volunteer for community organizations where different age groups serve together

• Join intergenerational book clubs, mentorship programs, or hobby classes

• Spend time with extended family members or neighbors of different generations

• Explore faith or cultural groups that bring people of all ages together

Above all, keep an open mind. “Age is just a characteristic,” says Meier. “We’re all in this together.”

What This Means for You

Friends of all ages aren’t just good company they’re good medicine. Building relationships across generations supports mental, emotional, and physical health, and may even reduce your risk of chronic disease. Wherever you are in life, making space for friendships outside your age group is one of the most meaningful ways to support your well-being and theirs.

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