Friends Are Essential to Your Health, Says New Research

Your closest friendships might be the most undervalued relationships in your life, and that needs to change.

Author Rhaina Cohen delivered a powerful message in her recent TED talk about friendship in America. At a time when loneliness has reached crisis levels, she's challenging the idea that only romantic partners and family truly matter.

Cohen argues that platonic friendships aren't just nice extras in our lives. They're essential to our health and happiness, backed by real science.

The problem is how we've been taught to think about relationships. Society tells us to prioritize romantic partners and blood relatives above everyone else. Friends get whatever time is left over.

But Cohen's research shows that close friendships, when given real intention and commitment, profoundly strengthen our lives. These bonds can provide the same emotional support, stability, and joy we typically associate with romantic relationships.

The health implications are striking. Studies show that strong social connections improve physical health, reduce stress, and even help us live longer. Loneliness, meanwhile, affects our bodies like smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Why This Inspires

Cohen isn't suggesting we abandon our romantic relationships or families. She's asking us to expand our definition of what matters most. What if we treated our closest friends with the same seriousness we bring to romantic partners?

This means making time for friends even when life gets busy. It means having honest conversations about what you need from each other. It means showing up consistently, not just when it's convenient.

The conversation, hosted by TED's Whitney Pennington Rodgers, was part of an exclusive TED Membership event in November 2025. Cohen's message resonated deeply with viewers searching for connection in an increasingly isolated world.

Her work comes at a critical moment. Americans report having fewer close friends than ever before. Many people say they have no one they can confide in about important matters.

But the solution doesn't require dramatic life changes. It starts with recognizing that the friends already in your life deserve more attention, energy, and care. It means texting back, making plans, and following through.

Cohen's research reminds us that humans are wired for community. We thrive when we invest in multiple deep relationships, not just one romantic partnership expected to meet every need.

The path forward is clear: call that friend you've been meaning to catch up with, and make friendship the priority it deserves to be.