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The secret to making new friends as an adult (w/ Marisa G. Franco)

How to Be a Better Human

CHAPTER

The Effect of Outside Friendships on a Couple's Relationship

Research finds that if I make a friend, I'm not only less depressed, but my spouse is too. When you get into conflict with your spouse, it negatively impacts your release of a stress hormone cortisol. If you have quality connection outside of that marriage, that doesn't happen. Your cortisol release is normal, right? Other research that finds that, particularly for women who tend to have more close intimate relationships, when they go through difficulties within that partnership, they are more resilient to it when they have this outside support.

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