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The ‘Best Friend Effect’ on Stress

by Savitha C Muppala on Sep 26 2011 10:23 PM

The ‘Best Friend Effect’ on Stress
Sharing emotions and feelings during times of stress with a best buddy greatly helps relieve difficult times, a recent study suggests.
According to the lead author of the study, Ryan Adams, an assistant professor of paediatrics at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre, it is not any friend who can do the trick of relieving  stressful times, but it is the magic of being with a best friend. 

During the study, the saliva samples of kids were evaluated for levels of stress hormone cortisol.  The hormone cortisol is released as a response to stress.  

The study showed that just being in the company of a best friend, more than anyone else, seemed to cushion the stressful or negative experience and this resulted in reduced production of cortisol. Levels of cortisol seemed to rise when no friend was close by.   

This study conducted on children could have similar implications on the experiences of adults too. 

 



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Source-Medindia


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