Making friends at any age
Group exercise, multigenerational connections are beneficial, says UCI Health psychiatrist
January 30, 2025
"Always be making friends. We lose opportunities to make new friends after 50," says UCI Health psychiatrist Dr. Jody Rawles.
Credit: Irvine Standard
IN THE NEWS: The benefits of having strong social connections are well-documented. They reduce the risk of disease and contribute to improved eating habits and better sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet, one in three U.S. adults report feeling lonely.
We lose opportunities to make new friends after 50, says UCI Health psychiatrist Dr. Jody Rawles. He spoke to the Irvine Standard about how to make connections at any age.
“Group exercise does everything. Running clubs, cycling clubs, yoga and Pilates are great workouts, and there’s no pressure to socialize because you’re engaged in an activity. At the same time, there’s opportunity for informal socialization before and afterward. Grab coffee together after class.”
Don’t limit yourself to people your own age, either.
“Make multigenerational friends. Those friendships are often overlooked, and they’re important. Do more things with your neighbors. Mentor the youth and help the old.”
Rawles is a psychiatrist with UCI Health Psychiatry Services. He is also executive vice chair and a professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. His clinical interests include bipolar disorder, depression, psychiatry and pregnancy, schizophrenia, somatoform disorders and suicide prevention.
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