Women's strong bonds key to good health of children

Published on Tuesday 9 June 2009 21:32

THE unique and emotional bond between women is good for their health and the health of their children.

The offspring of chacma baboons whose mothers formed strong friendships with other females lived much longer than those whose mothers were less social.

The researchers said the findings, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, parallel previous studies showing friends reduce mortality and improve health in humans, particularly women.

Primates are unusual in the way they establish special bonds with other group members. These relationships are particularly pronounced in species like baboons in which females remain in their natal groups throughout their lives.

Dr Joan Silk, of the University of California, said: "Here we provide the first direct evidence that social relationships among female baboons convey fitness benefits. In a group of free-ranging baboons, the offspring of females who formed strong social bonds with other females lived significantly longer than the offspring of females who formed weaker social bonds.

"In particular, females who formed stronger bonds with their mothers and adult daughters experienced higher survival rates than females who formed weaker bonds.

"These results parallel those from human studies, which show that greater social integration is generally associated with reduced mortality and better physical and mental health, particularly for women."

Psychologists say friends eliminate loneliness.