How Oxytocin Shapes the Friendships That Protect Your Health

Strong friendships increase survival rates by about 50%, making them as important for your health as diet, exercise, or quitting smoking Oxytocin, often called the bonding hormone, determines who you trust and how quickly you form lasting connections When oxytocin signaling is disrupted, friendships take longer to form, feel weaker, and lose their emotional reward Research in animals shows that friendship is an evolved survival strategy found across many species, not just humans You can strengthen your own friendships by focusing on fewer, deeper connections, sharing rewarding experiences, and maintaining consistent contact