Social and community relationships improve your health

Social and community relationships improve your health

Looking after your neighbours' house when they are away, feeding their cats and dogs, looking after their children, sharing the lawnmowing. Such altruistic behaviour can be good for your health.

This is the finding of a three-year research study by Professors Robert Bush from the University of Queensland and Fran Baume from Flinders University, which was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

The research found that people's physical and mental health is significantly greater in those who have links with their neighbours than those without.

"In a typical Australian suburb people who have links with their neighbours have better health than those who do not," said Professor Bush.

"The links are often fairly simple - not only knowing your neighbours but doing small things for them."

Even people who are ill tend to become less ill if they have greater links with their neighbours.

As people get older, maintaining links with neighbours, making use of local parks, and living in a community where people help each other ensures that these people not only live longer, but also are less likely to get sick, he said.

Those who live in communities where people are cut off from their neighbours, where they are fearful of using local parks and byways, are more likely to suffer illnesses.

This Australian research confirms American, British, and Canadian findings of a similar kind.

FURTHER INFORMATION: Professor Robert Bush Phone 07 3240 7012, or 0419 668 507