New Study Finds Meeting Friends in Person Boosts Well-Being More Than Texting

In a new study, Canadian researchers have found that meeting friends in person contributes to greater well-being compared to texting. The study looked at 13,000 adults over 50 and assessed their “friendship score” based on factors such as the number of friends they had and the frequency of contact with them.

Dr. Mallika Marshall, an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician, has been reporting on health news for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. Dr. Marshall is Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and is on staff at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. She currently works on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19 at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center. Additionally, Dr. Marshall serves as a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications.

The researchers argue that meeting friends in person, making direct eye contact, can synchronize brains and enhance communication, leading to increased empathy that cannot be achieved through texting or emailing alone. This personal connection and interaction are believed to have a significant impact on overall well-being.