The relationships you choose don’t just impact your mental health. The stress or happiness they cultivate also affects your long-term and short-term physical health.
Researchers are finding that the quality of our relationships with our partners, family members and friends can be as important, or in some cases, more important, to human health than habits like smoking, diet, exercising and drinking alcohol.
Humans are social beings meant to work together toward a common goal, and, as a result, our well-being is closely tied to these ever-important interactions.
According to Rosie Shrout, an assistant professor in human development and family science at Purdue University, a healthy relationship may vary in how it looks from person to person.
However, generally, relationships thrive when couples have open communication, are able to deal with stress well together and are responsive to the thoughts and feelings of their partners.
“Good couples may even become stronger ...
