Credit: Eileen Molony
Claudia Haase, associate professor of human development and social policy in the School of Education and Social Policy
Many of us are stretched so thin between work and caregiving obligations, but making time for friendship is essential. Dinner parties are a good place to start. And I don’t mean fancy, posh dinners with carefully crafted meals (although those are great). I mean simple dinner parties. Breaking bread with those we care about is an ancient ritual. And sharing a meal with friends is something we can actually make happen in our busy lives. Invite different people who might not have otherwise met. That’s a way of not only nourishing your own friendships but also giving your friends the chance to connect with each other and then have something beautiful develop from there.
Şebnem Türe, doctoral student in the personality, development and health program in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
In today’s fast-paced, globalized world — where frequent relocations and digital interactions shape our social lives — forming and maintaining deep friendships has become increasingly challenging. Many adults struggle to find opportunities for meaningful emotional connection. Yet friendships are vital for both mental and physical health. Friendship provides opportunities for intimacy and self-disclosure, which are crucial for emotional support and personal growth, as well as fostering resilience and enhancing overall well-being.
Credit: Fig Media
Anthony Chambers, chief academic officer at The Family Institute at Northwestern University and director of the Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies
Building meaningful and satisfying relationships is key to our health and well-being. When I did my postdoctoral studies at Harvard Medical School, I worked with Robert Waldinger, author of the New York Times bestseller The Good Life, on one of the longest scientific studies on happiness ever conducted. Beginning in 1938, this multigenerational study found that the key to a good life is to have good relationships, which keep us happier and healthier and help us live longer.
Credit: Kellogg School of Management
Adam Waytz, Morris and Alice Kaplan Chair in Ethics and Decision Management in the Kellogg School of Management
Though people decry the rise of social media and smartphones for replacing in-person interaction, these tools offer us unprecedented avenues for connection. We take for granted that we are now capable of connecting with people who share our exact same interests — in negroni recipes, role-playing video games or obscure jazz records. Of course, these channels may lead us to form social networks that are broader rather than deeper, but we won’t know if that’s true for some time. The overall effects on our feelings of social connection and well-being will not be well understood until we have at least another decade of data.
Credit: Gr8y Productions
Eileen Graham, associate professor of medical social sciences in the Feinberg School of Medicine
A chronic lack of quality social connection can lead to persistent loneliness, which has known implications for downstream health. Individuals who are persistently lonely or become lonelier as they age often have worse cognitive function and resilience, as well as poorer physical health and greater risk of early mortality.
Making and maintaining new friendships in adulthood can be difficult. As members of our communities, my suggestion is that we all look out for each other. We can all make efforts to reach out to people who seem potentially isolated. Just knowing someone is available for them can help stave off feelings of loneliness.
Neal Roese, SC Johnson Chair in Global Marketing in the Kellogg School of Management
Maintaining a friendship ought to be easy because it is inherently enjoyable. But in our middle years, especially when we have family and career obligations, it is tough to stay in touch. Successfully gaining and maintaining friendships starts with the simple decision to prioritize it and set aside time for it. To make new friends, focus on your immediate community and look for groups to join: Churches are rich wells of local community, as are organized/recreational sports, craft classes. Signing onto prosocial activist groups is yet another way to meet like-minded people nearby. It all boils down to a mindset of being open to new friendship opportunities. Ask someone to share a quick coffee and see where it goes!
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