A new study has found that the strong and sound social associations with relatives, friends, neighbors or workmates can decrease the risk of one’s survival by 50%.

Professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad, from the Department of Psychology at Brigham Young University, expressed that the association between sound health and social connections has not yet been identified by the health organizations and the public. Being into group embeds the sense of responsibility and care and makes people take less risk.

The study revealed that a person who remains secluded is equally vulnerable to get affected by as many diseases as a person who smokes 15 cigarettes a day, an alcoholic, someone who does not do any physical exercise and is obese.

The findings are based on the 148 previous studies that studied human connections and examined the health results for around seven and a half years.

As told by Professor Timothy Smith, study’s co-author, the results are not based on the longevity of elderly people, but it included people of all ages who were benefitted with having sound social relationships. He further added that though modern living and technology have made some people think that such connections are not required, it is not so.

He said, “The constant interaction is not only beneficial psychologically but directly to our physical health”.