Researchers have identified the exact number of best friends that would improve your teens’ mental health and academic success. Here is the number to remember.
Experts are unanimous: loneliness and isolation during adolescence promote the development of mental disorders. However, a study conducted by Fundan University in China offers an encouraging insight into the impact strong friendships can have during this critical time.
Published in the journal eLife, this study involved 23,500 young people, aged 10 to 12, and analyzed how their social interactions influenced their mental well-being as well as their academic performance. The results demonstrated that friendship played an essential role, particularly during the transition from late childhood to adolescence, a phase during which the brain faces important developments. Teenagers who found themselves isolated or surrounded by poor relationships were more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. Conversely, those who benefited from strong friendship ties showed signs of well-being and academic success.
But that’s not all, the study also revealed that the ideal number of best friends during this period was not left to chance. According to researchers, having five close friends would constitute the “perfect number”. This figure would not only be an indicator of popularity, but would reflect the importance of the quality and depth of relationships. Rich interactions with close friends would be crucial, as they would directly contribute to the adolescent’s emotional stability and cognitive development.
Emi Bondi, director of the mental health service at Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo explained: “The brain develops in a relational context. The people around us play an important role in regulating our emotional and social behavior.” And it is above all the relationships experienced during adolescence, even in the digital sphere, which shape the individual’s brain and increase or decrease the risk of developing psychiatric disorders during their life.
This discovery would also be intended for parents, educators and health professionals who support adolescents in their development. Understanding the impact of friendships can, in fact, guide young people towards healthier relationships. Enough to put an end to futile interactions, formatted by social networks.