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posted by janrinok on Saturday November 27 2021, @09:26PM   Printer-friendly
from the helping-hand-is-healthy dept.

Giving social support to others may boost your health:

While researchers have long thought that receiving social support from others is a key to health, results from studies have shown mixed results. So researchers from The Ohio State University decided to see if giving support may also play an important role in health.

They found that on one important measure of health -- chronic inflammation -- indicators of positive social relationships were associated with lower inflammation only among people who said they were available to provide social support to family and friends.

In other words, having friends to lean on may not help your health unless you also say that you're available to help them when they need it.

“Positive relationships may be associated with lower inflammation only for those who believe they can give more support in those relationships,” said Tao Jiang, lead author of the study and a doctoral student in psychology at Ohio State.

Preliminary evidence in the study suggested that the link between health and the willingness to help others may be especially important for women.

[...] The study used data from 1,054 participants in the National Survey of Midlife Development in the U.S. These were all healthy adults between 34 and 84 years old.

Journal Reference:
Tao Jiang, Syamil Yakin, Jennifer Crocker, Baldwin M. Way. Perceived social support-giving moderates the association between social relationships and interleukin-6 levels in blood. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2022; 100: 25 (DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.11.002)


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @10:22PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @10:22PM (#1200075)

    Learning that your neighbor won the lottery would give me a stomach cancer.

  • (Score: 3, Informative) by Snotnose on Saturday November 27 2021, @10:28PM (1 child)

    by Snotnose (1623) on Saturday November 27 2021, @10:28PM (#1200077)

    those 3 racist assholes in Georgia get an extra 10 years behind bars because they got a ton of social support.

    --
    Why shouldn't we judge a book by it's cover? It's got the author, title, and a summary of what the book's about.
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 29 2021, @05:04AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 29 2021, @05:04AM (#1200424)

      those 3 racist assholes in Georgia

      Well, that narrows it down ;-)

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @10:36PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @10:36PM (#1200078)

    "WHO GIVES A FUCK WHAT YOU THINK?"

    -- Freddy Krueger

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @10:56PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @10:56PM (#1200089)

      Freddy loves you.

  • (Score: -1, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @10:44PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @10:44PM (#1200084)

    FUCK YOU!

    Keep your llama shit INSIDE THE FENCE!

    Fuckin piece of SHIT!

    Fuck you, too!

    Well aren't you nice?

    Thank you.

    YOU'RE WELCOME!

    Say, let's go out back and sodomize the chickens again.

    Jim always knew how to have a good time. Let's hope his fits.

  • (Score: 5, Funny) by deimtee on Saturday November 27 2021, @10:55PM (3 children)

    by deimtee (3272) on Saturday November 27 2021, @10:55PM (#1200088) Journal

    Mod this post up to feel better.

    --
    If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.
    • (Score: -1, Spam) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @11:44PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @11:44PM (#1200100)

      There was a baboon named chimpy,
      He had a head and an ass like Stimpy,
      He murdered a clown,
      And soiled his gown,
      Now how the fuck is he going to the ball?

      FeedTheClownFeedTheClownFeedTheClownFeedTheClownFeedTheClownFeedTheClownFeedTheClownFeedTheClownFeedTheClownFeedTheClownFeedTheClownFeedTheClown

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @11:53PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @11:53PM (#1200103)

        Giving Straitjackets to Others May Boost Your Health

    • (Score: 5, Interesting) by maxwell demon on Sunday November 28 2021, @08:46PM

      by maxwell demon (1608) on Sunday November 28 2021, @08:46PM (#1200306) Journal

      That post is already at +5, and therefore can't be modded up any further. Which means all those who have modded it up took away the chance for others to mod it up and thus feel better. Selfish assholes. ;-)

      --
      The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
  • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @11:07PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @11:07PM (#1200093)

    The man finished his objective, ejaculating into the face of Bill Gates on the cover of a popular magazine.

    "Now that's what you call CLASSY, wouldn't you say, old friend?" the thin man asked of his pet hamster. "I SAID, That's FUCKING CLASSY!" The pet hamster inserted his head entirely into his anus until he was fully engorged.

    The man snorted a line of coke off of the filthy cheap motel coffee table before he slit his throat with a butcher knife.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @12:09AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @12:09AM (#1200106)

      needs more explosions

  • (Score: -1, Spam) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @11:46PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 27 2021, @11:46PM (#1200101)

    Ana de Armas naked. Now that's the ticket.

  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by nostyle on Sunday November 28 2021, @02:00AM (6 children)

    by nostyle (11497) on Sunday November 28 2021, @02:00AM (#1200134) Journal

    At an early age - maybe twenty years old - I discovered that picking up the tab when dining with friends at a restaurant (when I could afford to) gave me the most unexpectedly satisfying happy feeling. Been doing it ever since, whenever possible.

    For much the same reason, I find charity is a forgivable extravagance.

    Does it make me healthier? I'm not sure, but my family and friends seem happy.

    --
    "It's okay. I've got this."

    • (Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @02:19AM (5 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @02:19AM (#1200136)

      I discovered that picking up the tab when dining with friends at a restaurant (when I could afford to) gave me the most unexpectedly satisfying happy feeling.

      That works if it goes mutual - you pay sometimes, I pay sometimes, others pay sometimes - even the ones with less money pay, though less frequently. It all evens out, it strengthens the social bond.

      However, if you keep paying the majority of times, the social relationship inevitably gets tilted - soon enough, the relationship feels transactional and neither you nor the others will remain happy.

      • (Score: 3, Interesting) by nostyle on Sunday November 28 2021, @03:08AM (4 children)

        by nostyle (11497) on Sunday November 28 2021, @03:08AM (#1200147) Journal

        ...if you keep paying the majority of times...

        I have never been so wealthy that I could do such a thing. It took me months to save money enough for treating my friends. Still I've never shrunk from treating those less well off than me regardless of my means. I suppose one must be moderate in all things.

        --
        / You ask me for a contribution / Well, you know / We're all doing what we can / - Lennon & McCartney, Revolution

        • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @04:14AM (3 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @04:14AM (#1200157)

          Still I've never shrunk from treating those less well off than me regardless of my means.

          If you are in a tight squeeze, fess up and share the expense. Acting generous beyond your means is simply foolish - makes you look like a vain idiot even to your less well-off friends.

          I suppose one must be moderate in all things.

          That's what Sidartha said - good thing that dope repeated what I told him.

          • (Score: 2) by nostyle on Sunday November 28 2021, @05:18AM (2 children)

            by nostyle (11497) on Sunday November 28 2021, @05:18AM (#1200161) Journal

            You seem to be deliberately missing my point.

            My original comment was posted to extol the incredible feeling you get by being charitable and practicing random acts of kindness. This, in turn, reduces the stress one feels in social situations, let's one sleep soundly at night, and causes people to treat you as a valuable friend - and perhaps all this leads to lower levels of inflammation in your health.

            You OTOH would school the world that stinginess has its reasons. I reply, "Sure, practice moderation - but be careful that you don't cheat yourself of the wonderful feelings and peace of mind that charity rewards you with. It is available to anyone of any economic class, varying only in amounts."

            I will err on the side of generosity every time, and, based solely on how I feel, I'll not be subscribing to your newsletter.

            --
            ...and don't get me started on the magic of giving, or the spiritual effects thereof.

            • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @05:32AM

              by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @05:32AM (#1200163)

              Shut the fuck up, you pedantic clown.

              Help out when you can. Don't front.

              Do we agree? God, these autistic mofos.

            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @06:24AM

              by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @06:24AM (#1200168)

              When I pay, I expect a blowjob.

  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @04:08PM (5 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @04:08PM (#1200244)

    Humans knew 2000 years ago that helping, charity, and giving is good for your soul.

    Feed the hungry,
    and help those in trouble.
    Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
    and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
    Isaiah 58:10

    • (Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @06:16PM (3 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @06:16PM (#1200276)

      Now if only the supposed followers of those teachings would practice them. Looking at you christians!

      Jesus would support taxing the rich, universal health and education, and better support for the homeless. Yet those are almost universally hated by the average christian american.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @06:59PM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 28 2021, @06:59PM (#1200282)

        Jesus would support taxing the rich, universal health and education, and better support for the homeless.

        Citations needed.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 29 2021, @05:07AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 29 2021, @05:07AM (#1200425)

          2nd tablet of the Wikipedians, lines 5 thru 10.

      • (Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Sunday November 28 2021, @08:52PM

        by maxwell demon (1608) on Sunday November 28 2021, @08:52PM (#1200307) Journal

        Matthew 25:29 clearly says otherwise:

        For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

        --
        The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 29 2021, @03:20AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 29 2021, @03:20AM (#1200404)

      The interesting thing about this study is that is suggests there is science that proves measurable benefits to being supportive of others, and it might be hoped that we could someday quantify the effects of various behaviors and teach that in school without having to resort to disputed scriptures.

      IOW, sure they knew things like this 2000 years ago, but now we are beginning to understand and quantify things without having to subscribe to a system of beliefs along with all the questionable dogma that it includes.

  • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 29 2021, @05:00AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 29 2021, @05:00AM (#1200423)

    R.I.P. MDC.
    We miss you, buddy.

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