22 February 2023 , 22:16
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For those of us who love nothing more than watercooler chats in the office or dissecting celebrity red carpet hits and misses over a cuppa in the canteen, it’s the news we’ve been waiting for.
Researchers have discovered that far from it all being a waste of time, women who have good relationships with colleagues at work and enjoy a laugh and giggle with them are healthier in middle age.
Scientists at the University of Queensland followed over 7,000 women who were aged 45-50 for two decades, asking them to rate their relationships with colleagues, partners, family and friends.
Participants who were very dissatisfied with their relationships with people at work were twice as likely to be affected by 11 chronic illnesses including high blood pressure, cancer and heart disease than those who were very satisfied.
Participants who were happy at work were also healthier (Stock photo) (Getty Images)I’ve been lucky throughout my professional life to have had a succession of excellent work ‘spouses’ – colleagues who have become really good friends and who have made a huge difference to the working environment, especially when you have a particularly difficult manager.
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Given we can often spend more time with people in the office than we do with our partners, families and children, it’s obvious how we get on with them has a huge impact on our physical and mental wellbeing.
But knowing that it can affect our chances of getting serious illness is fascinating. It’s probably grist to the mill of companies and HR managers who want to see much more of an office presence than working from home after the pandemic. It’s not something to be taken lightly.
It’s impossible to form strong relationships via work meetings done on computer screens. Nothing beats face-to-face interaction. But granted it doesn’t have to be every day.
So next time anyone catches me lingering a little longer than usual over the coffee machine with a colleague, we’re doing it for the good of our health.