Amanda Guest Blogs: Somebody to lean on

This Guest Blog Post is from Amanda Walbridge, one of Dr. T’s Health Psychology students:

Just how much of an effect can our peers have on our health? This research has shown that people with high levels of peer social support have a significantly lower risk of mortality than those who don’t. However, the extent of the effects of peer social support on risk of mortality varied based on age. Peer social support had greater effects for those who were between 38 to 43 years old; anyone who was below 38 or above 43 did not experience significant health benefits from high levels of peer social support.  Research has also shown an interaction between levels of control and risk of mortality between men and women.  Higher levels of control resulted in decreased risk of mortality for men, but resulted in increased risk of mortality for women.  These results suggest that optimal work environments vary based on age and gender.